Contact:
Meredith Erlewine
NBIA Director of Publications
(740) 593-4331
merlewine@nbia.org
NBIA Joins EntrepreneurshipWeek USA as a Program Partner
October 25, 2006
ATHENS, Ohio—The National Business Incubation
Association has joined the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation,
Inc. magazine, The New York Times, and more
than 200 other organizations in supporting EntrepreneurshipWeek
USA as a program partner. This national effort to inspire
and encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship
as a career choice is a celebration of America’s
unique culture of inventiveness.
With the theme, “What’s Your Big Idea? Take
it on!” EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will take place
from Feb. 24 – March 3, 2007. The initiative serves
as an inspiration for young people to think creatively
and turn their ideas into action – whether that
means starting a new business or solving a problem that
makes society better. Officials are planning events
in cities across the country, culminating in Washington,
D.C., where the focus will be on the importance of policy
to the nation’s entrepreneurs.
As a program partner to EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, NBIA
will highlight the stories of the entrepreneurial nominees
for its 2007 awards. These awards recognize outstanding
incubator clients and graduates in the fields of technology
and manufacturing/services. All of the entrepreneurs
in consideration for NBIA awards are successful businesspeople
who have used incubation as a way to reach their dream.
In addition, NBIA will encourage its member incubators
to host “America’s Next Top Entrepreneur”
contests in their communities. These events, being held
all over the country in celebration of EntrepreneurshipWeek
USA, provide unique opportunities for entrepreneurial-minded
young people to showcase their talents and be recognized
and rewarded.
“We live in a society where you don’t have
to go work for a major corporation – you can develop
your own business, exercise your creativity, explore
different opportunities,” said Dinah Adkins, NBIA
president and CEO. “The importance of getting
young people involved and exposing them at a young age
to entrepreneurship cannot be overemphasized.”
Entrepreneurship is a driving force of the U.S. economy.
According to the Kauffman Foundation, during the past
15 years, businesses less than five years old have accounted
for about 70 percent of the net job creation in the
United States. EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is an effort
to perpetuate such entrepreneurial activity by encouraging
the ideas and innovation among young people.
For more information on events and activities taking
place across the country as a part of EntrepreneurshipWeek
USA, visit www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com.
The National Business Incubation Association is the
world’s leading organization advancing business
incubation and entrepreneurship. Since 1985, NBIA has
provided industry professionals with information, education,
advocacy and networking resources to bring excellence
to the process of assisting early-stage companies. For
more information about the organization, contact NBIA,
20 E. Circle Drive #37198, Athens, Ohio 45701-3571;
telephone: (740) 593-4331; fax: (740) 593-1996; or visit
us online at www.nbia.org.
