Raise the Bar

Individuals with the skills that have traditionally defined entrepreneurship—risk-taking, creativity, responsibility, and adaptability—are now making a difference throughout our society, whether in their own ventures or working for another employer. More Michigan residents must use these skills to create new businesses and benefit existing firms. Michigan must rekindle a culture of entrepreneurship, starting with the education of all the state’s young people and extending to how Michigan thinks about economic development and job-training activities.

RECOMMENDATION

Create a Culture of Entrepreneurship

• The State Board of Education must integrate entrepreneurial skills and education into Michigan’s K–12 standards.
• Michigan’s two- and four-year higher education institutions must create a Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurship and Innovation as a network to cultivate entrepreneurial education and activities among Michigan community colleges, universities, and business and community partners.
• Michigan’s two- and four-year higher education institutions must develop and offer entrepreneurial degree or certificate programs and enhance existing degree programs with entrepreneurship skills and training.
• The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and Michigan’s K–12 and higher education associations must add to current, initial efforts to create 75–100 partnerships among Michigan’s community colleges, universities, and K–12 systems that offer an entrepreneurial curriculum leading to certificates and degrees.

(Economic Benefits Work Group recs. 2 and 4)

News

• Granholm, DLEG Announce Entrepreneurship Education Initiative, Press Release, Labor & Economic Growth (September 24, 2004)
• University of Michigan’s Zell Lurie Institute Awards $98,000 to Dare to Dream Grant Program and Michigan Business Challenge Recipients; Unique Programs Support Action-based Entrepreneurial Education by Awarding Grants to Promising High-growth Business Concepts, PR Newswire US (March 1, 2006)
• Zell Lurie Institute’s Wolverine Venture Fund Makes Latest Round of Investments; Pioneering Student-Run Venture Fund Provides MBA Students Real Investment Experience and Drives Significant Business Returns, PR Newswire US (November 14, 2005)
• Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest Announces Launch of its Sixth Year Supporting Michigan Entrepreneurs; Fall Business Plan Competition to include Commercialization Training & Coaching Sponsored by the Ann and Carman Adams Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, PR Newswire US (September 26, 2005)

Web Links

• The Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network (MEEN)
• The Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network (MEEN) Entrepreneurship Education Benchmarking and Template Report
• The Michigan Center for Innovation and Economic Prosperity (also known as The Michigan Prosperity Center) James Madison College, Michigan State University
• Entrepreneurship Curriculum Grants Summary Sheet, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth