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HCR 178—State-Wide Task Force for Support of
Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Sponsor: Rep. D. Butler

For a long time, economic development in Kentucky has focused narrowly on business recruitment as its primary strategy. But Kentucky’s economy is failing to make progress relative to the nation as a whole, and many parts of the state have a hard time recruiting or retaining industry. Entrepreneur and small business support is a critical strategy for building an innovative, creative and locally-rooted economy that leads to long-term prosperity. Kentucky must increase its commitment to an entrepreneurial approach.

Proposed Next Step:  A Task Force
To move this discussion along, HCR 178 proposes convening a task force to explore these questions and issue recommendations for the 2009 legislative session.

Charge of the Task Force
To gather information and study issues relating to the need or potential options for building a state-wide entrepreneur and small business support system.

The task force shall:

1. Collect and analyze data on the importance and potential importance of entrepreneurs and small businesses to the Kentucky economy;
2. Catalogue and map the existing infrastructure of agencies, organizations and programs targeting entrepreneurs and small businesses;
3. Hold hearings in various regions of the state to hear from local entrepreneurs, small business owners, service providers and citizens about the support needs of homegrown businesses;
4. Identify effective efforts to build entrepreneurial and small business support systems in other states and determine applicable lessons for Kentucky;
5. Identify and recommend roles the state could play in encouraging collaboration between existing programs and services;
6. Recommend ways the state can structure increased financial or organizational support to strengthen existing public, private and non-profit programs and efforts and the system as a whole.

Membership
The proposed twenty three member task force will represent the diversity of service providers and relevant interests, including state government cabinets, agencies and programs addressing entrepreneurs and small businesses; relevant university, community college, and private college programs; the small business development center network; non-profit service providers; entrepreneurs and small businesses owners; and relevant research, community and civic organizations.