A majority of the country’s governors announced last week that they endorsed a plan to make entrepreneurship a priority in the United States and its territories, according to a media statement released by supporting organizations.
The plan, supported by Right to Start, the national nonprofit organization championing entrepreneurship as a civic priority, and More Perfect, a group dedicated to revitalizing democracy, was created by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt during his term as chairman of the National Governors Association. Stitt’s term ended July 31.
Officials said the new program was sparked by one of Stitt’s executive orders which he issued in January. That order created Oklahoma’s first executivelevel Chief Entrepreneurial Officer, a post that reports directly to the governor. In addition, the plan advances policies that make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in the state.
“Governor Stitt’s groundbreaking Executive Order achieved a historic milestone for entrepreneurship and went on to become the model for the Governor’s Compact on Entrepreneurship,” said Victor W. Hwang, founder & CEO of Right to Start and co-chair of America the Entrepreneurial. “The Governor’s Compact has now achieved its own historic milestone, with more than half of the governors of U.S. states and territories signing it. This affirms the importance of entrepreneurs to creating broad prosperity in our states and for our entire nation.”
As of Sept. 3, governors from across the United States and its territories have signed the bipartisan Governor’s Compact on Entrepreneurship – which was labeled as one of the broadest gubernatorial commitments to entrepreneurship in American history. Some of those governors supporting Stitt’s idea include states surrounding Oklahoma: Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
Stitt’s plan outlines practical actions governors can take to make entrepreneurship a priority across their states and territories.
The executive director of the National Governors Association praised the program. “Governors know that entrepreneurs fuel economic growth - generating jobs, economic activity and innovation in every state and territory/’ Brandon Tatum, the NGA’s chief, said. “Through the bipartisan Governor’s Compact on Entrepreneurship, governors are leading the way in advancing practical policies that help more people start and grow businesses that strengthen entire communities and give more people a shot at the American Dream. The National Governors Association is proud to support governors in this important work.”
The campaign will “renew America’s entrepreneurial promise during the nation’s 250th anniversary year by mobilizing citizens, entrepreneurs, civic organizations, elected officials, and business leaders across the country,” the NGA said.
John Bridgeland, the founder and CEO of More Perfect and co-chairman of American the Entrepreneurial, said the campaign was crucial to America’s economic future. Bridgeland said new and young businesses generate virtually all net job growth in the United States, and every 1% increase in a state’s entrepreneurial activity correlates with a 2% decline in poverty.
“At a time when Americans worry that the American Dream is fading, Governor Stitt... and leaders across the country are taking concrete steps to help people translate their talents into new enterprises,” he said. “With 31 governors committed to fueling entrepreneurship in their states, this bipartisan movement helps create jobs, lift people out of poverty, close the affordability gap, and knit communities back together.”
M. Scott Carter is an awardwinning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott.carter@swoknews.com.