The beginning of a new year often involves resolving to change different habits to have a happier, healthier and more successful year. The Albert Lea Entrepreneur Advancement Program team would like to make a commitment to the ALEAP participants to have an year filled with education opportunities and meaningful connections, according to a press release.

It will begin that commitment by asking for new ideas and feedback for the ALEAP at the January networking event.

The 2017 kickoff event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at The Outlet. As the ALEAP team kicks off 2017, it wants to harness the creative power of local entrepreneurs and get their input on what they would like to see from ALEAP in 2017. All local entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to attend monthly ALEAP networking events as well as educational trainings.

The ALEAP program is an initiative to promote and assist Albert Lea and Freeborn County entrepreneurs through a multi-faceted approach. Features of the program are monthly networking gatherings on the third Thursday of the month, educational and training opportunities, available incubator and co-working space shared with other entrepreneurs, and micro lending/gap financing options. The program is housed under the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency umbrella and is a partnership between ALEDA, the local Blandin Community Leadership cohort, Riverland Community College and the Riverland Foundation. The two-year goals for the ALEAP program are to create five new businesses and 15 new jobs. Since the program started in June 2015, ALEAP participants have started five new businesses and created 18 new jobs.

ALEDA is the local economic development organization made up of two separate entities — the city of Albert Lea Port Authority and Greater Jobs Inc. If  interested in more information about the ALEAP program, contact ALEDA at 507-373-3930.