SCORE Helps Create Jobs and Businesses as the Economy Recovers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Half of all Americans are employed by small businesses. The U.S. economy depends on new, growing and thriving small enterprises. SCORE provides start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners with mentoring, coaching, training and resources. These services help today's entrepreneurs create businesses, jobs and profitable growth. Learn more at www.score.org.

In 2009, SCORE celebrated its 45th anniversary and reached a new milestone, helping its 8.5 millionth client. SCORE helps create 25,000 new jobs each year at a cost of $200 per job, according to an impact study by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE estimates that one of every seven face-to-face counseling clients creates a business, based on the study.

• SCORE services increased five percent in FY09 to 523,806 total services.
• SCORE assisted 378,157 people through mentoring and workshops.
• SCORE volunteers donated more than 1.2 million hours to entrepreneurs.

SCORE continues to innovate with online technology and resources for entrepreneurs. In 2009, SCORE launched its first-ever online client community, thanks to the support of PartnerUp, a Deluxe Company. The SCORE Online Community is filled with SCORE experts who participate in discussions and answer questions. There is no cost to join at www.scorecommunity.org.

SCORE also provides Ask SCORE advice by email 24/7 at www.score.org. Entrepreneurs can search by business question or keyword. Through a network of 1,200 mentors and dozens of online workshops, nearly 170,000 services were provided online in FY09. Last year, more than 3.2 million people visited the SCORE web site, www.score.org.

SCORE CEO Ken Yancey says, "SCORE helps small businesses set the stage for America's economic growth with real world advice. Together with SCORE, entrepreneurs are charting a course for success through the recession." Yancey adds, "Every day, SCORE mentors help small businesses identify opportunities for growth, maximize cash flow and plan for success. We aid America's economic recovery by supporting the success of America's small businesses with business mentoring."

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 8.5 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through mentoring and workshops. More than 12,400 volunteer business counselors in 364 chapters serve their communities through entrepreneur education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses.

For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE on the Web at www.score.org and www.score.org/women.

SOURCE SCORE