Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.
February 10, 2024
WHEREAS, entrepreneurship is a key building block to success in the workplace and communities as it brings ideas, creativity, and innovation to life and drives economic growth on local, state, and national levels; and,
WHEREAS, according to the 2022 Small Business Profile, business owners by demographics in Michigan are women (43.3%), veterans (5.8%), Hispanics (2.9%), and racial minorities (15.5%); and,
WHEREAS, according to the Statistics of U.S. Businesses, U.S. Census Bureau (SUSB), 911,914 small firms have established themselves in the state—that’s 99.6% of all businesses in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, 1.9 million individuals are employed by small businesses in the state, comprising 47.9% of the private workforce (SUSB).
WHEREAS, during this week and as we work toward a better Michigan, we encourage youth and all citizens throughout the state to explore innovative ways in which entrepreneurship education can bring together the core academic, technical, and problem-solving skills essential for the success of our state's future entrepreneurs; and,
WHEREAS, a total of 13,861 identified firms exported goods worth $41.6 billion from Michigan in 2020. Of those exporters, 12,241 (88.3%) were small. Exports by small firms reached $9.8 billion, making up 23.5% of exports by identified firms.
WHEREAS, according to the Ipsos for Junior Achievement USA, 51% of Junior Achievement alumni report having started or partnered in their own business venture; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Michigan offers a network of support hubs and funding resources to help high-tech entrepreneurs and small businesses access mentoring, networking events, product development, grant writing, business planning, technology mining, market analysis, and more to support their business growth; and,
WHEREAS, during this month, we join with other states in engaging public and private organizations to spark entrepreneurial initiatives that can serve as a catalyst for new economic opportunities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim, February 10-17, 2024, as Entrepreneurship Week in Michigan.