WHEREAS, entrepreneurship continues to thrive in Idaho, with the number of small business employers growing at a rate of 6.7 percent in 2006 compared to the U.S. rate of 1.4 percent, thus adding high paying jobs to Idaho’s growing economy; and

        WHEREAS, Boise State University and TechHelp have fostered collaboration between investors, entrepreneurs, students and government support agencies to raise awareness of entrepreneurs’ contribution and to offer programs to help Idahoans develop new innovative products and launch new businesses; and

        WHEREAS, TechHelp, a partnership of the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University, offers E! Day 2008, a program for finding, discovering and solving, on March 4, 2008; and

        WHEREAS, Boise State University’s seventh annual Northwest Venture Championship® takes place during the week of March 6-8, 2008; and

        WHEREAS, the Idaho Department of Commerce helped initiate and support the Northwest Venture Championship business plan competition; and

        WHEREAS, Micron Technology Inc., one of Idaho’s entrepreneurial success stories; Kickstand, the Boise Valley Economic Partnership and Boise State University continue to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and education in Idaho,

        NOW, THEREFORE I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim March 3-8, 2008 as

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK

in Idaho, and call on all Idahoans to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the above named entities and persons in leading events such as TechHelp and Boise State University’s Northwest Venture Championship® that make Idaho a rich seedbed 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 Capital in Boise on this 29th day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand eight and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE