Second state joins Right to Start initiative
Missouri legislature passes legislation a year after Nevada became the first state to do so.
Right to Start is a national initiative to advance entrepreneurship as a civic and community priority. It is led by Victor W. Hwang, an economic growth expert who previously served as Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
With its strong ties to Kansas City, MO, it makes sense that the second state to join the relatively new movement was the Show-Me State. That occurred last week when Gov. Mike Parson signed the Right to Start Act (SB 894 and 825), which will take effect on August 28, 2024. The legislation passed in the Missouri House and Senate with bipartisan support in 2024: by votes of 117-7 in the House and 31-1 in the Senate.
Stipulations in Missouri’s Right to Start Act include:
- Creation of an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Missouri Department of Economic Development to promote policies and initiatives to support the growth of entrepreneurship of Missouri-based businesses with less than 10 employees;
- Requirements that, by no later than June 30, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Administration files a report with the Missouri General Assembly that includes information on contracts awarded to businesses that have been in operation for less than three years;
- Requirements that the Commissioner of Administration, in conjunction with the Office of Entrepreneurship, is to make recommendations to the General Assembly on improving access and resources for Missouri businesses that have been in operation for less than three years, including businesses owned by members of a racial minority group, and women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.
Missouri is the second state to sign into law the Right to Start Act (and create an Office of Entrepreneurship).Nevada enacted a law a year ago. In addition to Missouri and Nevada, Hwang noted that Right to Start successes include:
- New Mexico which created an Office of Entrepreneurship, inspired by Right to Start policy recommendations, by executive department action in September 2023.
- Kansas created the position of Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship by executive department action in March 2024, inspired by Right to Start’s work in the state.
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced in May 2024 the appointment of the state’s first-ever Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer to “help build a community of innovation and make Michigan a place where innovators and entrepreneurs feel seen and heard and work together to drive us forward.”
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