February 2007                                              

                                                                                                                                                   CONTACT:

                                                                        Tom Phillips, 212-935-4655

                                                                                                        Jon Ratliff, 816-842-2111

Matt Pozel, 816-932-1263

NATIONWIDE EFFORT LAUNCHED TO EDUCATE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS

“EntrepreneurshipWeek USA” Draws Unprecedented Support from Business, Government and Nonprofits

Get Involved at www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Hundreds of organizations will join together in an unprecedented effort to inspire and encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice and to celebrate America’s unique culture of inventiveness during EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, Feb. 24 – March 3, 2007.

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will include events and activities in communities across the country to inspire, educate and prepare young people, primarily ages 14 to 25, to be America’s next great entrepreneurs and innovators. With the theme,” What’s Your Big Idea? Take it On!” the initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action – whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. Official events are being planned in cities across the county, culminating in Washington, D.C, where the focus will be on the importance of policy to the nation’s entrepreneurs.

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is being sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and by government, not-for-profit organizations and businesses, including the The New York Times, and Inc. magazine. A large number of partner organizations are joining the effort as well, each of whom will host and organize activities to help young people see their potential as creative, entrepreneurial thinkers and innovators. Additionally, the House of Representatives recently noted the importance of entrepreneurship by enacting a Resolution (HR 699) in early June in support of a national entrepreneurship week.

Entrepreneurship is a driving force of the U.S. economy. During the past 15 years, businesses less than five years old have accounted for about 70 percent of the net job creation in the United States. However, while America presently maintains the edge as an entrepreneurial society, there are clear signs of massive economic competition from abroad.  More Americans in the future will need to be generating more ideas and better innovations if the United States is to stay ahead of the large populations of educated citizens in emerging and globally savvy economies.   

“Educating our young people about entrepreneurship and reinforcing the value that entrepreneurs and innovators bring to our economy is critical to America’s long-term prosperity – more so now than ever before,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation.

According to Kauffman Foundation research, 41 percent of children ages 9 -12 say they would like to start their own business.  “Young people have a natural desire for the independence and control that come with owning a business and being their own boss,” Schramm said.

A Web site, www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com, will serve as a portal to events and activities across the country and provide information to engage young people in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA. Ongoing Web logs, virtual forums, message boards and other communications will encourage participation.

For the past two years, the United Kingdom has conducted a similar program, initiated by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, called Enterprise Week. Last year, as part of the second annual Enterprise Week, more than 11,000 young Britons participated in more than 2,200 events across the UK.

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EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Sponsors and Partners

As of September 5, 2006

SPONSORS

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Inc. magazine

The New York Times

PARTNERS – Partial List

(Complete List on www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com)

Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education
Council on Competitiveness
DECA

Endeavor
Entrepreneurs' Organization
Heart of America Foundation
International Economic Development Council
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Seed and Venture Funds
National Association of Women Business Owners
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship
National Governors Association
National Venture Capital Association
The Public Forum Institute

University of New Hampshire

West Virginia Department of Education
Youth Venture