Displaced Workers Turned Small Business Operators: A Viable Economic Development or Reemployment Strategy?

Abstract

This article sets small business start-up training initiatives within the context of other strategies used to serve displaced workers, and then proceeds to describe and evaluate a recent programmatic effort of this type. The evaluation is based on a two-year postprogram follow-up of participants in an Ohio pilot project funded through Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) funds. Comparisons of business starts, longevity of operation, employment generation, and income generation are made to U.S. businesses in general, European programs of similar philosophy, and to the experience of displaced worker programs in general. Implications are then drawn for managers of this type of employment and training program.