Individual States Plan to Encourage Entrepreneurship

Last week, we talked about how entrepreneurs, who serve a crucial role in growing an economy, have been shortchanged by the proposed stimulus package.

See our previous post: How Entrepreneurs are Key to Job Creation [1].

Now, as the Wall Street Journal [2] reports, many individual states are planning to harness the energy of entrepreneurs in an effort to jumpstart the economy.

Maryland is tackling the issue head on by allocating over $70 million for programs to support small and minority owned businesses, and $15 million for heath insurance at such businesses.

The approach in Florida includes low interest rate loans for small businesses with less than 100 employees.  Loans up to $250,000, that would be purposed for everything from expansion to new salaries, would be available at a 2% interest rate.

In New Jersey, to spur expansion and hiring, a stimulus plan includes grants and tax incentives. $3,000 is available for small companies that hire an employee and keep them for a year.  Sales tax credits are being considered for capital investments that exceed $5,000.

Similar tax incentives are being considered in Colorado, Arizona, and Minnesota.

Such considerations at the state level are a step in the right direction, and signal recognition, at the government level, that entrepreneurs can and will play a significant role in reinvigorating the American economy.