Branstad Launches Global Entrepreneurship Week

Governor Terry Branstad kicked off Global Entrepreneurship Week in Iowa today during his weekly press conference. Global Entrepreneurship Week, an initiative founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2008, is the world’s largest celebration of entrepreneurs and their efforts to bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and development and improve human well-being.

During one week each November, Global Entrepreneurship Week inspires people all over the world through local, national and global activities designed to assist entrepreneurs in exploring their full potential and spur creativity. Global Entrepreneurship Week is actively celebrated in 125 countries, with 24,008 partner organizations planning 33,846 activities that directly engage millions of participants every year.

“This is a great opportunity to spotlight the contribution of small business to the state’s economy,” said Governor Branstad. “Small businesses are the backbone of the state’s economy, accounting for 51.3 percent of private sector jobs. Focusing on entrepreneurial development not only advances our goals in terms of job creation, but helps to improve our overall business climate and vitality.”

During the press conference, the Governor invited entrepreneurs and innovators to get involved by participating in events scheduled around the state. Just a few of the events taking place across the state include:

Dream Big Grow Here Contest – Quad Cities
Smart Start workshop – Burlington – Tuesday, November 19
One Million Cups – West Des Moines – Wednesday, November 20

A full listing of events can be found at the Iowa Global Entrepreneurship Week page on IASourceLink.

Global Entrepreneurship Week in Iowa is being spearheaded by IASourceLink.com, Iowa’s online resource tool for entrepreneurs and small businesses. IASourceLink.com, celebrating it’s one year anniversary this month, is a website that is comprised of over 320 resource organizations located across Iowa that provide technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs at all stages of growth. The website is provided by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa’s MyEntre.Net.

The Governor took today’s launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week as an opportunity to commend IASourceLink.com on its first year of activities and for providing the foundation of assistance and guidance to Iowa’s entrepreneurial community. After just one year of activity, in terms of web traffic, IASourceLink.com ranks fourth out of 20 affiliates who utilize this same web-based, Kauffman Foundation sponsored tool for their respective communities nationwide.

Content contributed from Governor Branstad, Office of the Governor of Iowa.