1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to economic development; establishing the Office of Entrepreneurship; 
1.3 	appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.4 	chapter 116J.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [116J.8743] OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
1.7 	The Office of Entrepreneurship is established in the Department of Employment and 
1.8 	Economic Development. The objective of the Office of Entrepreneurship is to develop 
1.9 	and implement strategies to foster entrepreneurial activity. In furtherance of this objective, 
1.10 	the Office of Entrepreneurship shall do the following:
1.11 	(1) measure and report to the governor and the legislature, by no later than March 1 
1.12 	of odd-numbered years, on the status of entrepreneurial activity in Minnesota, including 
1.13 	small business formation, survival, and growth;
1.14 	(2) form an entrepreneurial advisory board with public and private representatives 
1.15 	to make recommendations on strategies and programs and to develop specific goals for 
1.16 	statewide entrepreneurial outcomes;
1.17 	(3) identify barriers to entrepreneurial development and conduct an inventory 
1.18 	assessment of existing entrepreneurial resources in order to develop a one-stop information 
1.19 	and referral service that is responsive to the needs of the entrepreneurial community;
1.20 	(4) advance alternatives for the promotion of private capital to provide better access 
1.21 	to early stage funding for small businesses;
1.22 	(5) work with secondary and higher education institutions, businesses, nonprofit 
1.23 	organizations, and state and federal agencies to provide education, training, and technical 
1.24 	assistance which increase entrepreneurial literacy, skills, and experiences; and
2.1 	(6) coordinate the state's direct services of small business assistance and the small 
2.2 	business development center network.
2.3 	Members of the advisory board may include representatives from: higher education 
2.4 	institutions, small business development centers, small business incubators, nonprofit 
2.5 	organizations, economic development authorities, commercial banks and other lending 
2.6 	institutions, and state and federal agencies.

2.7 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
 2.8 	$....... is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Employment and 
2.9 	Economic Development for purposes of the Office of Entrepreneurship created under 
2.10 	section 1.