Entrepreneurial Support Programs Must Function Within a Regional Vision, Meet Entrepreneurs’ Core Needs

To be effective, entrepreneurship support programs must focus on business owners’ core needs, according to a report released today by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The report comprises recommendations from a 40-member panel of entrepreneurial experts convened by the Kauffman Foundation and the International Economic Development Council in April, 2008. The group met to discuss how to improve knowledge about the effectiveness of U.S. entrepreneurship support programs that are designed to help stimulate innovation and economic growth.

Panelists, who included heads of entrepreneurship programs and economic development professionals from throughout the United States, focused on the core components of effective entrepreneurship support programs; the essential infrastructure of an entrepreneurial eco-system; new avenues for research; and the next steps required to nurture high-growth entrepreneurs.

"The panelists made it clear that, while U.S. entrepreneurship programs serve various industries and markets, each must structure its services to meet the most important needs of the entrepreneur: relevant market knowledge, access to talent and capital and participation in networks," said Robert E. Litan, vice president of Research & Policy, Kauffman Foundation. "Entrepreneurial support programs will be most effective if they are part of a broader regional vision that promotes partnerships among key community players that help sustain global competitiveness."

Contacts:

Rossana Weitekamp, (516) 593-2413, [email protected]

Lacey Graverson, 816-932-1116; [email protected], Kauffman Foundation

Full Report: http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=1171