Project GATE (Growing America Through Entrepreneurship) was initiated in 2002 to help emerging entrepreneurs create, sustain, and/or expand their existing small business. Project GATE was implemented as an experimental research demonstration in seven urban/rural sites in three states (Minnesota, Maine, and Pennsylvania). In these demonstration sites, approximately 4,000 individuals applied for Project GATE services. Half of the applicants were randomly selected to receive Project GATE services (participant group); the remaining half was not offered Project GATE services (control group). Those selected for the participant group were offered individualized assessment of entrepreneurial training needs, referral to appropriate service providers, and classroom training and individual counseling at no cost. Control group members were free to pursue entrepreneurship training without assistance from Project GATE.

Overall impacts of Project GATE were estimated by comparing the mean value of each outcome for those in the program group with the mean value of the outcome for those in the control group. This report presents the findings from the long-term follow-up of the original Project GATE sample five years after random assignment.