Getting a Lift After The Pink Slip: Bizstarters Launches Business Start-Up Scholarship Program For Downsized 50-Plus Managers

Business start-up scholarship program offered for downsized 50-plus individuals by Chicago-based Bizstarters.com

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) March 16, 2009 -- Jeff Williams, Chicago-based business start-up coach, announced today that he will be bringing the national Virtual Incubator Business Start-Up Scholarship program to downsized individuals over age 50 across the U.S. Williams is the founder and Chief Coach for the Virtual Incubator Coaches Network.

Virtual Incubator is a division of Chicago-based Bizstarters.com, selected as "The Best Entrepreneurial Guide For People Over 50" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Virtual Incubator one-on-one and group coaching programs are presented through a growing network of certified business start-up coaches, all of whom are over age 50 and offer extensive corporate or small business management experience to their coaching clients.

The Virtual Incubator program has won national recognition for its combination of coaching, business planning and start-up services in one "wrap around" business launch process, designed to get the client open for business quickly, professionally and affordably.

According to current government data, there are now 1.7 million Americans 55 and older unemployed, almost twice as many as in November 2007.

"More and more of these downsized managers over 50 are facing increased difficulty in successfully returning to the corporate world," says Jeff Williams. "An increasing number are looking to create a new source of income through running their own business and are looking for step-by-step help in doing so. Our Virtual Incubator program is specially designed to provide this help".

Over the past seventeen years, Bizstarters has won state and national awards for the effectiveness of its program to guide downsized managers from such companies as Sears, Allstate, Pfizer and Motorola into successful new lives as independent business owners.

"I have counseled new and growing small businesses across the U.S. for the past 20 years and I am very pleased to present the high quality Virtual Incubator program to downsized individuals over age 50," said Williams. "I am particularly glad to be able to offer scholarships to people who are no longer receiving a paycheck".

Ken Proskie is an example of someone who has dramatically benefited from participation in the Virtual Incubator program. Downsized at age 52 for the second time in five years, Ken knew that he faced a struggle to find a suitable replacement job as a corporate health and safety director. He found out about the Virtual Incubator program through his outplacement company and decided it was time to act upon his long-felt entrepreneurial ambition. Working from a home office in Evanston, Illinois, Ken has built a successful consulting company now bringing in more than $150,000 per year.

"I know how to reduce industrial accidents like the back of my hand. But, I had no idea where to start to organize a business," says Proskie. "Through the Virtual Incubator program, I successfully launched my business in just three months".

Certified Virtual Incubator Coaches are set and ready to begin offering the Virtual Incubator Business Start-Up Scholarship program in Cleveland-Akron, Toledo, Columbus, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, St. Louis and Chicago. Additional locations will be added within the next quarter.

Bizstarters is now accepting applications for scholarships to its Virtual Incubator Business Start-up Scholarship Program through its website at www.bizstarters.com.

About Jeff Williams
Jeff is the founder and CEO of Chicago-based Bizstarters.com, selected by the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine as the "Top Entrepreneurial Website For People Over 50". Jeff started his first entrepreneurial training company at age 40 and has since launched two additional entrepreneurial training businesses, both after age 50. He is the author of eight workbooks, guides and DVDs on business start-up including his latest workbook - "The Ultimate Boomer Business Start-Up Guide". Jeff also serves as Featured Expert for Boomer Entrepreneurs for SBTV.com, the #1 Video Source For Smart Small Business Information. He can be reached at jeff (at) bizstarters (dot) com.

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