[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9684]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HIGH TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP HONORED

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, Idaho's small businesses make up 
over 95 percent of total businesses in the State. New companies launch 
their products and services every day. These businesses are the 
lifeblood of Idaho's economy and their existence indicates the 
overwhelming entrepreneurship that abides in our communities large and 
small. A unique public-private partnership between the Idaho National 
Lab, Boise State University, and the Idaho Department of Commerce and 
Labor is helping these vital organs of Idaho's economy grow and 
function to their best potential. The Small Business Administration 
recently recognized this effort, giving Idaho TechConnect a national 
``Best Practices'' award at an economic development conference here in 
Washington.
  Idaho TechConnect has been instrumental in providing small high tech 
business entrepreneurs with development assistance, and facilities and 
services to assess the progress and direction of their business 
expansion. The partnerships with industry and higher education provide 
these ventures with inspiration, innovation, outside experience and 
consultation from those in academia as well as the established and 
thriving high tech industry in Idaho.
  Sharing resources, whether intellectual or tangible, provides 
outcomes that are productive and long lasting. The people and 
organizations involved with Idaho TechConnect are to be commended on 
their commitment to our State's economy and by extension, communities 
and families. This tremendous honor by SBA is most certainly well 
deserved.

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