When Vicksburg resident Bill Lancaster retired in 2002, he found retirement wasn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. Wanting to keep his mind active, last year, he decided to start his own vending business with his son. Jim Harper, director of the Small Business Development Center at Hinds Community College’s Raymond campus, said Lancaster is among a growing number of retirees interested in going into business for themselves.

“We’re seeing a lot of retirees who don’t just want to sit around or travel. They want to start up a little business,” he said. “It’s kind of new market for us.”

On July 17, Lancaster and Harper will be on hand to answer questions at a Retiree to Entrepreneur Workshop the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce is hosting. Along with working with his son with their small business, Lancaster now councils prospective entrepreneurs for the SBDC at Hinds.

“I always tell people you have to have a game plan and you’ve got to know your numbers,” Lancaster said. “You have to know your market, your costs and your projected income.”

The free workshop will begin at 9 a.m. at Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce on Mission 66 and will last about an hour and a half, said Harper.

“Bring us your questions and we’ll talk them through one by one,” he said. “This is a new program for us, and we’re really hoping to find out the resources retirees are most looking for and the questions they have.”

If you goThe Retiree to Entrepreneur Workshop is set for 9 a.m. July 17 at Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, 2020 Mission 66. The workshop is free, and those interested may register by calling 601-636-1012.Pam Smith, the Chamber of Commerce’s director of Retirement Development, said the chamber decided to launch the workshop due to an increase in the number of requests for information about business development.

“We know there are many retired government workers, teachers and others in the area who want to, at the very least, do some contract work, and maybe even start a business – not only to stay busy, but also to supplement a fixed income,” Smith said.