Once again I was asked to respond to a question posed by a reader of the Career Builder section of the Arizona Republic newspaper, in a column known as “Ask The Experts.” Following is the Q&A from that column.

Question:

I’m a retired firefighter planning to file for bankruptcy.   I have terrible credit, low income, and an intense desire to own my own business.   Are there any program options available to help me get back on my feet, go back to school for retraining or to fulfill my desire to run a business?

Answer:

The answer to all parts of your question is yes, but it will require some diligence and resourcefulness on your part.

As a starting point, I’d suggest that you set priorities based on what you need and want to occur. If you’re struggling financially, it makes sense to address that first. The City of Phoenix has a program called Phoenix Workforce Connection, which can link you to a myriad of career-related resources. You can find them at [1] www.phoenix.gov under the “Employment” tab.

Regarding your desire to start a business, I’d recommend [2] www.score.org to help you with the planning, financing and action steps to get a business going. Most of what they offer is free of charge.

Getting any new business financed is challenging, and more so if you have a bankruptcy. However, if your business idea is a better mousetrap, the financing just might beat a path to your door.