House Approves Entrepreneurship Bill
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA measure designed to streamline state entrepreneurship initiatives is now in the hands of the Indiana Senate. The bill, which was approved Wednesday by the House, would place several organizations under the umbrella of the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. January 30, 2014
News Release
State Representative Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) has authored a piece of legislation to further promote entrepreneurship in young Hoosiers. Yesterday, House Bill (HB) 1332 passed the Indiana House of Representatives with a unanimous vote.
HB 1332 combines several pro-entrepreneurship efforts and organizations into a single organization, known as the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (OSBE), an organization under the direction of the lieutenant governor. It also extends the young entrepreneurship program by two years.
“This organization will help focus many of the programs created in past years under one umbrella,” said Rep. Messmer. “This will not only simplify and consolidate our existing efforts, but also further encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in the future. For the most part, our small businesses simply want the government to leave them alone, however this legislation will truly benefit small business throughout the state by focusing on their needs.”
The OSBE will put a focus on small business needs such as specialty programming and business consulting, in addition to integrating universities, private sector business and government stakeholders.
“As a small business advocate, my number one goal is to make Indiana the best place in the country to start and grow a business,” said Rep. Messmer. “The offices that the lieutenant governor already oversees currently provide outreach and opportunities for Indiana small businesses, but by adding OSBE to the Lt. Governor's Family of Business, we will be able to foster greater capacity building for individuals and their communities.”
Next, HB 1332 will move to the state Senate for further debate and discussion. If it is passed in the Senate and the governor signs it into law, it will take effect on May 1, 2014.