In July 2009, President Obama challenged community colleges to graduate an additional five million students by 2020. According to the president's speech, community colleges uniquely are positioned to fuel the future of U.S. competiveness by developing an educated, skilled workforce to address the needs of a 21st century workplace.
Through a combination of new funding in the current budget and legislative measures aimed at coordinating state efforts and measuring progress, Gov. Bob McDonnell hopes to showcase Virginia as the premier destination for entrepreneurs to start or relocate a business. New funding, to the tune of nearly $10 million, would be used to establish a regional accelerator grant program, cybersecurity accelerator, and career pathways development program, among others.
A new article from Governing magazine is promoting free digital access to public information, or “Open Data,” as a pathway for promoting entrepreneurship and government cost-savings. When governments release free digital public records entrepreneurs can use the information to create apps that provide valuable and profitable services to consumers.
Babson University researchers report that nearly half of all the world's entrepreneurs are between the ages of 25-35 years, according to the 2012 edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Also, in all geographic regions, 25-34 year olds reported the highest rates of entrepreneurship. Babson researchers, however, emphasize that large numbers of entrepreneurs are found at all age ranges. Read more...
In an attempt to leverage the economic promise of young people, the state of Kentucky is launching a new public-private initiative designed to enhance creative thinking and entrepreneurial skills. The Governor's School of Entrepreneurs will be launched this summer as an experiential program that brings together representatives from Kentucky's science, engineering, design, entrepreneurial, and higher education communities to teach promising high school students from across the state on business fundamentals, entrepreneurship, product design, and creative thinking.
Two small grant programs and a minor reorganization of related functions within the U.S. Small Business Administration are the aims of a bill introduced Nov 26 by Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu and John Kerry. "Today's Entrepreneurs are Advancing Mentorship Act of 2012," or the TEAM Act (S. 3638) for short, would create an Office of Entrepreneurial Support within SBA to administer the grant programs, oversee online entrepreneurship education and resources, coordinate programs targeting youth entrepreneurship, and host international groups interested in U.S. entrepreneurship.
The world's fifth annual Global Entrepreneurship Week kicked off on Monday celebrating and encouraging innovators and entrepreneurs throughout the world. Founded by the U.S.-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the UK-based Make Your Mark Campaign, the weeklong program now spans 115 countries with 37,000 activities that reach upwards of seven million people. Activities include a Global Cleantech Open Ideas Competition, Startup Weekend and the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Building on a previous statewide initiative to boost technology entrepreneurship, a group of Rhode Island organizations have combined resources to launch a new effort called the Founders League. The idea is to assemble a treasure trove of support from universities, a mentorship-driven accelerator, and the Chamber of Commerce to provide resources and connections for established and aspiring entrepreneurs.
In an era of tightening fiscal constraints, states have to make tough decisions, establish clear economic development funding priorities and transform their economic development models to take advantage of immediate opportunities and position their state for long-term economic growth. Mississippi, Oklahoma and Washington have released state-specific strategic plans that make those tough decisions by focusing their resources on key science & technology (S&T) areas to address the economic impacts of the Great Recession and position the state for future prosperity.
To better serve all parts of the state by connecting experienced mentors with startup companies, the Kentucky Innovation Network has a new name and logo, a tighter focus, and expanded services. Established in 2002 as the Innovation and Commercialization Center program, the Kentucky Innovation Network will offer services to entrepreneurs from 13 locations across the state, and as part of the re-branding effort, three smaller centers will be upgraded to full-service centers.