About Us

Mission:

To improve each member’s ability to promote economic development by strengthening the microenterprise industry throughout Alabama. 

Alabama MicroEnterprise Network will recognize, celebrate and promote the contributions made by the microenterprise industry through policy, education and publicity for the benefit of the future of Alabama.

Goals:

• To provide peer to peer training


• To identify diversified funding sources for microenterprise programs in Alabama


• To provide networking opportunities and overcome territoriality/turf issues


• To advocate for microenterprise development support from state government and provide a common voice at the state level
  

Background:

In 2002, at a regional conference in Nashville of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), several Alabama attendees expressed a desire to establish a network of Alabama organizations to devise a strategy to guide them to reach new levels of achievement and growth. Shortly thereafter, representatives from several organizations met and proposed a strategy to create the “Alabama MicroEnterprise Network” (AMEN).  Founding participating organizations included the Birmingham Business Resource Center, Central Alabama Women’s Business Center, Community Equity Investments, Inc. (Ceii),  Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (SEEDCO), Mobile Women’s Business Center, AmSouth Bank(now Regions), Community Services Programs of West Alabama and Westside Community Development Corporation. As of 2007 there are currently twenty-three statewide member organizations. 

Who Our Member Organizations Serve:

While the individuals and communities that need and benefit from microenterprise assistance are quite varied, most microenterprise development programs target their services to low-income people.  Programs are tailored to meet the needs of specific target groups such as welfare recipients, minorities, women, the working poor, and individuals or business sectors that most frequently lack access to credit.  Some programs also target young people, disabled, refugees, homeless individuals and rural areas.