Contact:
Erica Kauten, Managing Director, (608) 263-7794, Erica.Kauten@uwex.edu
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661, thozeny@commerce.state.wi.us
MADISON, Wis.- Roughly half the people in Wisconsin are thinking about starting a business or have started a business, according to a new study of the state’s entrepreneurial climate.
The study, “A Medium for Growth: The State of Entrepreneurship in Wisconsin,” reported the strikingly high figures after surveying 1,144 randomly selected households across the state last year.
“In our study, the level of interest in entrepreneurship at the grass roots level in Wisconsin was encouraging,” said Erica Kauten, managing director of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network and state director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
The University of Wisconsin-Extension in conjunction with the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN) and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce launched the research, led by project manager Susan Yolton, to measure the entrepreneurial mood in the state.
Key findings were:
Roughly half of the people in Wisconsin are or have been involved in the Entrepreneurial Process – they are thinking about starting a business or have started a business.
The Wisconsin population views the Entrepreneurial Climate as “neutral” – neither encouraging nor discouraging.
Among people involved in the Entrepreneurial Process, there is a low level of awareness and usage of assistance programs across a wide variety of topics.
The study recommends creating a more hospitable environment for entrepreneurship across Wisconsin, motivating the large market of potential entrepreneurs to start up, and assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses that already exist.
“Gov. Jim Doyle has emphasized the importance of developing a strong entrepreneurial climate in his Grow Wisconsin plan, and his new programs and services for entrepreneurs are having a positive effect,” said Mary P. Burke, secretary, Wisconsin Department of Commerce. “People all over Wisconsin are considering starting a business as a career option.”
Kauten says the Wisconsin climate for entrepreneurship is favorable. “Wisconsin offers a lot of financing packages, technical assistance programs, and organizational support mechanisms, such as incubators and network groups, to aid fledgling enterprises,” she said. “These programs typically augment and leverage federally sponsored efforts, such as those offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce, to support investment, development, research, and funding for small businesses.”
The Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN), launched June 1, 2005, is an integrated statewide network that connects entrepreneurs to resources. It is designed to make it easier for entrepreneurs to access resources and services offered at Wisconsin universities, technical colleges, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. WEN’s primary service offerings include one-on-one business counseling, educational workshops, executive level programs, peer learning, and strategies to assess technologies and access capital.
“Entrepreneurial activity has become the most important job growth engine of the economy,” Kauten said. “Through this network of assistance, entrepreneurs and small businesses get more information and stronger skills – a powerful combination that helps them better plan, manage and grow their businesses.”
Among other activities, WEN has recently launched a weekly news digest for entrepreneurs, called Entrepreneur@Work. A new website, www.wenportal.org, provides entrepreneurs with easy access to assistance from more than 70 WEN partners, as well as success stories, publications, and other resources.
