Business Plans Don’t Stay on Paper
Inside PEP, participants build detailed business plans and pitch them to experienced professionals. But that’s just the beginning. What sets PEP apart is what happens after release when those ideas become reality.
How PEP Supports Launch-Ready Entrepreneurs
Graduates leave prison not just with a plan, but with tools. PEP’s post-release programming includes:
- eSchool: A reentry-focused course with real-world coaching
- Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Business support: Help with legal setup, marketing, and financial planning
- Access to networks: Alumni connections, industry professionals, and peer support
This infrastructure gives graduates a runway and a community for launching businesses that are legal, sustainable, and impactful.
The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Over 500 businesses have been launched by PEP alumni across Texas. Some are solo ventures. Others employ full teams, including other returning citizens. The industries range from trucking to HVAC to landscaping, real businesses solving real problems and strengthening communities.
More Than Income, It’s Ownership
Starting a business after incarceration isn’t just about money. It’s about reclaiming identity, building stability, and proving to the world, and to oneself, that transformation is real.
Entrepreneurship gives PEP grads a platform to lead with integrity, apply their values, and create generational change.
Final Thought:
A good idea is powerful. A good plan is better. But with the right support, that plan becomes a business, and for many PEP graduates, that business becomes a new way of life.
