September 24, 2013, Introduced by Rep. Schmidt and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
A bill to establish a pilot project to accelerate
entrepreneurship and innovation by establishing entrepreneur-in-
residence positions in the strategic fund.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"entrepreneur-in-residence act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Entrepreneur-in-residence" means an individual appointed
to a position under the project.
(b) "Project" means the entrepreneur-in-residence project
established under this act.
(c) "Strategic fund" means the Michigan strategic fund created
under the Michigan strategic fund act, 1984 PA 270, MCL 125.2001 to
125.2094.
Sec. 3. (1) The entrepreneur-in-residence project is
established in the strategic fund.
(2) The project goals include all of the following:
(a) Improving outreach by state government to the private
sector.
(b) Strengthening coordination and interaction between state
government and the private sector on issues relevant to
entrepreneurs and small business concerns.
(c) Making state government economic development programs and
incentives simpler and easier to access, more efficient, and more
responsive to the needs of entrepreneurs and small business
concerns.
Sec. 4. (1) The president of the strategic fund shall appoint
not more than 10 entrepreneurs-in-residence under the project
during any year.
(2) The president of the strategic fund shall select an
entrepreneur-in-residence for appointment based on all of the
following qualifications:
(a) Success in his or her field of endeavor.
(b) Demonstrated success in working with entrepreneurs and
small business concerns.
(c) Success in developing, inventing, or creating a product
and bringing it to the marketplace.
(3) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall be a full-time employee
of the strategic fund and shall serve for a maximum of 2 years.
(4) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall perform the following
duties:
(a) Assist the strategic fund in improving outreach to small
business concerns and entrepreneurs.
(b) Identify any inefficient or duplicative economic
development programs of this state, including those implemented by
local units of government.
(c) Provide recommendations to the strategic fund on methods
to improve the efficiency of existing state and local economic
development programs and incentives or for establishing new
initiatives.
(d) Facilitate meetings and forums to educate small business
concerns and entrepreneurs on state and local economic development
programs and incentives.
(e) Facilitate in-service sessions with employees of the
strategic fund or other state and local departments and agencies on
issues of interest to entrepreneurs and small business concerns.
(f) Provide mentorship and technical assistance to small
business concerns and entrepreneurs to aid in access to or
participation in state and local economic development programs and
incentives.
Sec. 5. (1) An entrepreneur-in-residence shall report directly
to the president of the strategic fund.
(2) The president of the strategic fund may establish an
informal work group of entrepreneurs-in-residence to discuss best
practices, experiences, obstacles, opportunities, and
recommendations.
Sec. 6. All departments and agencies shall cooperate with the
strategic fund and any entrepreneur-in-residence as necessary to
facilitate the project.
Sec. 7. The president of the strategic fund shall not appoint
an entrepreneur-in-residence under this act after September 30,
2016.