NEWS RELEASE
For Release: March 8, 2005
Contact: John McDowell, (202) 205-6941
john.mcdowell@sba.gov
SBA Number: 05-11
ADVO
State Initiatives In Entrepreneurship And Economic
Development
Win National “Best Practice” Awards
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 mall 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 nineteen 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.
For more information on the conference, agenda, and proceedings when released, visit www.sba.gov/advo.
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Created by Congress in 1976, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent voice for small business within the federal government. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy directs the office. The Chief Counsel advances the views, concerns, and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policy makers. Economic research, policy analyses, and small business outreach help identify issues of concern. Regional Advocates and an office in Washington, DC, support the Chief Counsel’s efforts. For more information on the Office of Advocacy, visit
www.sba.gov/advo, or call (202) 205-6533.