California debates Entrepreneur-in-Residence program
A California state assemblyman introduced legislation last month that would create an Entrepreneur-in-Residence program to encourage greater collaboration between the state and small businesses.
If successful, the bill would allow the director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development to appoint up to 10 successful entrepreneurs who would volunteer their time to state government.
“Entrepreneurs are responsible for creating thousands of jobs and play a key role in stimulating economic recovery in California and throughout the nation,” said Assemblyman Ian Calderon, who introduced the legislation. “It is our goal to help identify and resolve problem areas slowing down entrepreneurs from creating jobs and bringing new products to market in our state.”
Entrepreneurs placed in California agencies and departments will assist in providing outreach to small businesses, provide recommendations on ways to streamline and improve government procedures along with recommending ways to improve existing programs.
EIR programs are becoming increasingly more popular in governments both large and small. Virginia and Texas have already approved similar programs, and several other states are currently considering them.
San Francisco launched its program earlier this year, and the federal government has been using a similar program for years under the guise of its Presidential Innovation Fellows program.