MAY
2021
Small Business News & Events For You
“If you have an idea, the worst thing you can do is just hold on to that idea and never action on it…You have to become a person of action and intent. You have to start. If you don’t start, it doesn’t exist.” 
– Evan Hafer, Co-Founder TwistRate
RESOURCES
The Time Is Now To Support Veteran Entrepreneurs
According to data from a recent SCORE Megaphone of Main Street report, entrepreneurship among veterans continues to make up a large part of the overall U.S. economy, with self-employment rates higher among veterans than non-veterans.

Veterans represent 9.1% of all U.S. businesses - about 2.5 million businesses - and employ 6 million people, according to the report. Veteran-owned businesses also generate almost $1 trillion in receipts annually, supporting their local economies.

But despite these numbers, veteran business owners were denied COVID relief funding at much higher rates than non-veteran - from 20- to 100% more frequently depending on the type of aid.

So what can you do to support veteran-owned businesses? Read our full article below for five simple steps you can take.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Asian-American businesses suffer outsized pandemic toll
By Jonnelle Marte for Reuters
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020, countless small business owners saw the effects on their bottom line. But according to report released this spring by the New York Federal Reserve and AARP that focused on older entrepreneurs, Asian American-owned businesses saw the biggest declines among business owners in the United States.

Sales from small businesses owned by Asian Americans were down 60% year over year by the end of March 2020, compared to 50% declines for businesses overall. 

What contributed to these declines? According to the report, Asian-American owned business owners faced multiple challenges during the pandemic, including language barriers that made getting aid difficult and an increase in hate crimes and prejudice as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

To learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on Asian American business owners and how you can support them, click here to read the full article.
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
On Target Fitness - Portsmouth, NH
Owner: Alec Liberman
Mentor: Paul Mondello
 
For Alec Liberman, fitness has been a constant for many years in his life. As a member of the Navy ROTC program in college, he ran a fitness program to assist his peers. After graduation, he served four years as a U.S. Marine Corps officer, during which he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

After leaving the military, Liberman continued his love of fitness by working as a personal trainer. In 2015, he opened On Target Fitness based in Portsmouth, NH, with the goal of using his military experience and fitness expertise to help others reach their personal best.

Liberman was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year for New Hampshire in 2019. And in 2021, he is still running a thriving business, committed to keeping his gym open - and his members healthy and safe - even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Target Fitness is a "gym without treadmills," offering personal training, group fitness classes and health coaching to help their members get fit and stay healthy. All trainers have degrees in personal trainers - and some even write books on the subject - and programs are a hybrid of traditional training combined with innovative body physics. To learn more about On Target Fitness, visit www.ontargetfit.com.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
We offer a variety of virtual workshops and webinar series. Use the button below to visit our workshops page to view the calendar of events and register.
Meet with a SCORE Mentor
Need Help With Your Business or Business Idea?

Mentors at Merrimack Valley SCORE are here to provide you local, expert advice.
Visit our website or call (603) 666-7561 now to request a mentor.
Volunteer with SCORE
Help Make Dreams Come True.

Small businesses need your help! Become a volunteer with Merrimack Valley SCORE and help build the Southern New Hampshire business community. If you enjoy engaging with others and sharing your experience and expertise, please contact us!
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for more than 50 years.

Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and thanks to our network of 10,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at a very low cost. Learn more about SCORE.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
SCORE Merrimack Valley
Email Us | Website | Tel: (603) 666-7561
275 Chestnut Street, Suite 133, Manchester NH 03101
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