HB 1898 - DIGEST

Establishes the office of entrepreneurial development in the department of community, trade, and economic development. The purpose of the office of entrepreneurial development is to focus on developing and coordinating programs that assist in creating entrepreneurial activity. The office will: (1) Work with secondary and higher education institutions, small business development centers, small business incubators, nonprofit organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and state and federal agencies to provide education, training, and technical assistance that increases entrepreneurial literacy, skills, and experiences;

(2) Work with state and federal agencies, commercial banks and other lending institutions, federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, community development financial institutions, and nonprofit organizations to provide training and outreach to increase entrepreneurs access to funding;

(3) Work with small business incubators, chambers of commerce, federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal organizations, local community action centers, ports, public utility districts, and economic development councils to help create an entrepreneurial culture, which may include community asset mapping, leadership training, and the use of industry cluster strategies;

(4) Convene work groups of rural community stakeholders to identify policies that are barriers to entrepreneurship;

(5) Work with the rural development councils on business and project development by conducting assessments of communities to determine what a community requires for development and to develop strategies to assist the community in developing. The department and the rural development councils shall submit an initial report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with policy recommendations by December 1, 2005; and

(6) Have the authority to convene a partnership of appropriate state agencies and stakeholders to implement the strategic regional and community plans.

Provides that, until July 1, 2010, the focus of the office of entrepreneurial development will be on the rural communities of Washington. Beginning July 1, 2010, the office shall perform its obligations under this section for businesses located throughout the state.

Appropriates the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, to carry out the purposes of this act.