WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Michigan Economic Development Corporation was one of four state initiatives that won a national Best Practices award for its SmartZone program from the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration last week. The programs were recognized at the Putting It Together: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development conference.

There are eleven SmartZones in Michigan, including the SmartZone at the Business Technology Research Park in Kalamazoo, which is home to the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center. In 2003, when the SmartZone program was initially launched, Kalamazoo?s SmartZone was recognized by the MEDC as Michigan?s most successful. It still accounts for approximately 50 percent off all the businesses located in the 11 zones across the state.

?Encouraging entrepreneurship is a key component of local, regional, and state economic development,? said Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy. ?The Best Practice winners show a clear dedication to innovations in public policy that encourage entrepreneurs and provide an environment where they can flourish. These programs demonstrate market-based results and ought to be replicated across the country.?

Other winners were:

Idaho?s ?TechConnect? program for Best Practice in educational efforts to promote entrepreneurship.

The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute at the University of Maryland?s ?Maryland Industrial Partnership Program? for Best Practice in technology transfer programs.

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce?s efforts to reduce state mall business regulatory burden for Best Practice in regulatory flexibility.

The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development featured nineteen state entrepreneurship and economic development finalists from across the country. Their presentations focused on how to create environments where entrepreneurship, and economic development, can flourish. The program is

co-sponsored by the Office of Advocacy of the SBA, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Council of State Governments, and the National Lieutenant Governors Association>

For more information on the conference, agenda, and proceedings when released, visit www.sba.gov/advo