The Albert Lea Entrepreneur Advancement Program will host an evening of networking from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Freeborn Bank Building, according to a press release. Local SCORE mentors and others will be there to present and answer questions on what resources are available for local entrepreneurs and small business owners.

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 coworking 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.

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