ST. PAUL, MN - On Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Senior LinkAge Line One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors will roll out START MN. The new initiative assists older Minnesotans struggling to find work by providing helpful information and access to local employment resources.

"Keeping Minnesotans who still desire to work employed is paramount to our state and our economy. We need to put more effort into capitalizing on this valuable, largely-untapped resource," said Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon, who is leading the initiative.

Minnesotans interested in getting a sneak peek at the new service should visit the Board of Aging's State Fair Booth located in the Education Building (just north of the corner of Cosgrove St. and Dan Patch Ave.). Minnesotans also can visit MinnesotaHelp.info or call 1-800-333-2433 for more information.

The Senior LinkAge Line began operation in the late 1990s by helping Minnesota seniors with Medicare questions. During the past decade, it has developed into a service that answers questions and provides guidance to seniors on a wide range of topics including tax forms, Medicare applications, and even fishing licenses.

During the past several years, Lt. Governor Prettner Solon and the state of Minnesota consistently have looked for innovative ways to support seniors and help them remain active. In May 2012, Minnesota launched SHARE MN, which connects seniors with meaningful volunteer opportunities across the state.

While in 2011, the Senior LinkAge Line One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors was significantly expanded - allowing seniors to easily tap the help of 17 state agencies, non-profits, volunteer organizations and other professionals. Since the expansion, the Senior LinkAge Line has received more than 290,000 calls, with 96 percent of callers saying they would recommend the Senior LinkAge Line to another person.