Michelle Nelson, owner of The Pet Authority, will share how she uses social media to reach her customers and what makes a good social media campaign during an Evening with ALEAP.

The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at The Pet Authority in Albert Lea. As always, the event is open to everyone with a passion for entrepreneurship and small business growth in the community, according to a press release.

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.

Since the program started in June 2015, ALEAP participants have started eight new businesses and created 23 new jobs.

ALEDA is the local economic development organization of two separate entities — Albert Lea Port Authority and Greater Jobs Inc.

Any new or expanding business owners looking for assistance or interested in more information about the ALEAP program can contact ALEDA at 373-3930.