NFIB

from the SBA Office of Advocacy

Programs in Idaho, Maryland, Michigan and Wisconsin Gain Results

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four state initiatives spurring entrepreneurship and economic growth, and demonstrating market-based results, have won national "Best Practices" awards from the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The programs were recognized at the Putting It Together: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development conference held in Washington.

"Encouraging entrepreneurship is a key component of local, regional, and state economic development," said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. "The Best Practice winners show a clear dedication to innovations in public policy that encourage entrepreneurs and provide an environment where they can flourish. These programs demonstrate market-based results and ought to be replicated across the country."

The winners were:

• Idaho's "TechConnect" program for Best Practice in educational efforts to promote entrepreneurship.
• The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute at the University of Maryland's "Maryland Industrial Partnership Program" for Best Practice in technology transfer programs.
• The Michigan Economic Development Corporation's "SmartZone" initiative for Best Practice in regional economic incentives.
• The Wisconsin Department of Commerce's efforts to reduce state small-business regulatory burden for Best Practice in regulatory flexibility.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Advocacy of the SBA, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Council of State Governments and the National Lieutenant Governors Association, Putting It Together: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development featured 19 state entrepreneurship and economic development finalists from across the country. Their presentations focused on how to create environments where entrepreneurship, and economic development, can flourish.