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

        WHEREAS, entrepreneurship continues to thrive in Idaho, with the state ranked first in the nation for new businesses starts per capita and fifth in the nation for “entrepreneurial activity” in 2006, thus adding high-paying jobs to Idaho’s growing economy; and

        WHEREAS, Boise State University and Kickstand and their program Kickstart have fostered collaboration between investors, entrepreneurs, students and government support agencies to raise the awareness of entrepreneurs’ contribution and offer programs to help Idahoans launch new businesses; and

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

        WHEREAS, the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor’s Office of Science & Technology helps initiate and support entrepreneurship events; and

        WHEREAS, Boise State University’s sixth annual Northwest Venture Championship® takes place during the week of March 5-10, 2007;

        NOW, THEREFORE I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim March 5-10, 2007 as

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

in Idaho, and 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 fertile 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 7^th day of March in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-first and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred seventeenth.       

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE