WASHINGTON — Encouraging and recognizing entrepreneurs is an important factor in state-level economic development, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman said Thursday during an appearance at the National Press Club.
Heineman pointed to a recent event recognizing Nebraska entrepreneurs and their mentors, saying he wants to build on that effort.
"We might have an entrepreneur news conference a month where I can recognize a firm who's a young entrepreneur, because most established business leaders and community leaders in the state don't know who they are," Heineman said.
Heineman, a Republican, appeared alongside Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, a Democrat, at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's State of Entrepreneurship event. Heineman is chairman of the National Governors Association; Markell is the association's vice chairman.
The foundation released a couple of reports highlighting recommendations on how states can foster entrepreneurial activity and economic growth.
For example, the foundation suggests making it easier for university research faculty to commercialize their discoveries. The foundation also suggested states eliminate or relax occupational licensing requirements.
The foundation says the reach of such requirements has grown over the years and they often pose barriers for entrepreneurs looking to break into a given field.
Heineman told The World-Herald that the report has some interesting ideas, but that their recommendations also bring some challenges.
Relaxing licensing requirements might be helpful, for example, but he said he expected there would be significant resistance from those already established in a particular field.
He said he wouldn't go as far as the foundation recommends when it comes to making it easier for university faculty members to commercialize their research. But he said he's already spoken to J.B. Milliken, University of Nebraska president, about the matter and it's clear that the process should be easier.
"There's too much bureaucratic red tape," Heineman said.
Contact the writer:
202-630-4823, joe.morton@owh.com
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