WHEREAS, Idaho has a rich history of entrepreneurs from Harry Morrison to J.R. Simplot to Joe Albertson to the Parkinson brothers; and

        WHEREAS, entrepreneurship continues to thrive in Idaho, with the number of small businesses growing at a rate of 15 percent in 2004 compared to the U.S. rate of 4.5 percent, thus adding high-paying jobs to Idaho’s growing economy; and

        WHEREAS, Kickstand, a non-profit organization of innovators, has launched an educational arm called KickStart, which features workshops for emerging entrepreneurs; and

        WHEREAS, Boise State University and KickStart have fostered collaboration among investors, entrepreneurs, students, and government support agencies to offer programs to help Idahoans launch companies; and

        WHEREAS, the Governor’s Science and Technology Advisory Council has in its strategy to “Build an entrepreneurial culture that supports and nurtures new firm formation;” and

        WHEREAS, Idaho Commerce and Labor’s Office of Science and Technology helped initiate and support this event; and

        WHEREAS, KickStart’s annual workshops and Boise State University’s fifth annual Northwest Venture Championship® takes place during the week of March 20-24, 2006;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim March 20-24, 2006, to be

E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P   W E E K

in Idaho, and that Idaho recognizes and celebrates the contributions of the above-named entities and persons in leading events such as KickStart and Boise State University’s Northwest Venture Championship® that make Idaho a rich growing ground for new innovations and entrepreneurs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord two-thousand and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirtieth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred sixteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE