Since 1991, the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and its partner organizations have helped millions of entrepreneurs contribute to economic growth while supporting themselves, their families and their communities. AEO launched its Endeavor Ready initiative to identify solutions needed to successfully prepare returning citizens for entrepreneurship, including early credit-building, right-fit capital, and trauma-informed care. First Step Alliance was selected as a partner organization for AEO's 2023 cohort. 

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The Breaking Barriers report outlines actions that lenders and organizations in the reentry community can take to improve outcomes in their programs and remove barriers to capital access to better serve returning citizens interested in starting a new business.