When a record crowd of 275 businesspeople celebrated the 13^th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards of Greater Lansing on March 8, they also celebrated a growing entrepreneurial movement in this state. Since the award program’s inception, the magazine has honored more than 110 Lansing-area businesses and people that were willing to put everything on the line for their company’s success. While the Business Monthly and other organizations and programs with an entrepreneurial mission, such as the Edward Lowe Foundation, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year®, Great Lakes Entrepreneurs’ Quest and New Enterprise Forum, have been seeking to recognize and support Michigan’s entrepreneurs for many years, entrepreneur has become a recent buzzword in government and education sectors.

In her 2007 State of the State address, Gov. Jennifer Granholm declared, “We will continue to do everything we can to nurture the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs across our state.”

According to the governor’s office, this support comes in many forms, including the

21^st Century Jobs Fund, Capital Access Program, No Worker Left Behind education initiative, and a proposed tax cut for small businesses.

“Small businesses, and the entrepreneurs that drive them, are critical to Michigan’s economy,” explained Michelle Begnoche, spokesperson for the governor’s office. “They are the fastest growing businesses, employ the most people, create the greatest number of new jobs, and are the overwhelming majority of companies in Michigan. Small businesses are also playing a critical role in diversifying Michigan’s economy. That is why the governor is committed to ensuring entrepreneurs have the access to capital and resources that are so critical to creating new companies and growing in Michigan.”

In addition, the governor’s office noted that, based on information from the State Board of Education and the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, entrepreneurship is part of the curriculum in 262 schools, 19 community colleges and six universities.

In fact, State Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale) is spearheading the Michigan Spirit of Entrepreneurship Initiative. This multi-bill package aims to boost the state’s support of entrepreneurial activities in many ways with the goal of diversifying the economy toward smaller employers. In the long-term, the initiative hopes to shift the business culture in Michigan by converting more of the research at universities into marketable products and services. It also involves expanding K-12 curriculum in the areas of financial literacy and business commerce as well as reimbursement for residents who want to take an entrepreneurial class at the community college level. According to Meisner, the short-term aspects of the proposal encompass tools entrepreneurs can use immediately, including an income tax deduction for personal money used to start a business, a tax credit for healthcare expenses and expanding the state’s bulk purchasing program to entrepreneurs.

“Entrepreneurship, in my opinion, is the closest thing we’ve got to a silver bullet to move Michigan forward,” said Miesner, who is chair of the Commerce Committee. “… the net benefit is new job creation.” For more information about the status of this initiative, contact Rep. Meisner’s office at 517-373-0478.

According to the 2007 State of the New Economy Index published by The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation and Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, cultivating entrepreneurship is a key economic development strategy for the New Economy.

“In an economy where growth and competitive advantage increasingly comes from innovation, entrepreneurship has become more central to the success of regional economies,” the report stated. “With states less able to prosper by attracting businesses from out of state, they increasingly must look within, and expanding entrepreneurship will be a key part of that strategy.”

According to the index, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland have made the greatest progress in transitioning to the New Economy. Michigan has moved up three spots since 2002 to number 19 on the list of states.

As the 13^th Annual Entrepreneurial Awards of Greater Lansing winners were announced, the mid-Michigan business community was reminded of this strong force in our local economy. The nine business owners honored have assumed personal risk, maintained and nurtured employee and profit growth, implemented innovation and provided vision for the company’s future.

Congratulations to the winners featured in this issue and thank you to the sponsors that have supported recognition of their efforts. The 2007 Entrepreneurial Awards were sponsored by Andrews Hooper & Pavlik, PLC; Capitol National Bank; Plante & Moran. PLLC; Radisson Hotel Lansing; Strategic Products & Services, formerly G.E.E! Communications; Symbiosis International; TDS Metrocom; More Stimulating Talk Radio 1320 WILS and WILX – TV 10.