KANSAS
Implemented by Law or Executive Action
In 2024, the Kansas Department of Commerce created the position of Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Kansas Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship by executive department action. The role was designed to support small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the Sunflower State. Specifically, the position focuses on developing partnerships with key stakeholders, researching and identifying resources, and collaborating with essential partners to create a thriving business environment for all Kansan entrepreneurs. Right to Start inspired this work and collaborated with state leadership to support the position and office.
Introduced
In 2023, Representative Tory Marie Blew introduced House Bill 2123, which would establish the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce; encourage 5% of state contracts and certain incentive funding go toward Kansas businesses that have been in operation for less than five years; encourage the elimination of first-year business fees; and require the Office of Entrepreneurship to submit an annual report to the legislature on various new, young business metrics and data points throughout the state.
In 2022, Representative Tory Marie Blew introduced House Bill 2735, which would provide three years of income tax incentives to new businesses; require the Secretary of Administration to submit a report to the legislature concerning contracts awarded to new businesses; and establish the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce.
New businesses create almost all net new jobs in the United States. Entrepreneurs create stronger communities, grow GDP, create homegrown jobs, increase community wealth, diversify goods and services, increase lifetime incomes, and fight inequality and poverty.
65% of Americans believe it's harder to start a business today compared to their parent’s generation. 94% of Americans believe “it’s important to America’s future” that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own businesses. 81% of entrepreneurs say that the government favors big businesses over them, and 69% say the government doesn’t care about them at all.
Streamlining processes and removing barriers and unnecessary burdens for new, young companies to start and grow is critical to expanding entrepreneurial opportunity for all.
Many states are realizing the importance of new, young businesses to their economic growth and are working to change and update policies.
Your State Needs Entrepreneurs.
Interested?
Right to Start shares best practices to help policymakers support entrepreneurs. We are a leading, national nonpartisan civic organization working to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all throughout the United States by changing minds, changing policies and changing communities. Our policy recommendations are pro-growth measures, which will remove barriers and streamline processes to starting, cut red tape, advance homegrown job creation, and build a stronger connection between entrepreneurs and government.
Disclaimer - For Informational Purposes