Startup Talk: St. Louis Fed Chief Talks Startups
by July 23, 2015 8:06 am 112 views
Editor’s note: Each Thursday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Startup Talk,” a round-up of startup, technology and entrepreneurial news in our email newsletter, which you can sign up to receive daily for free here.
ST. LOUIS FED CHIEF TALKS STARTUPS
St. Louis Fed President James Bullard discussed innovation and entrepreneurship as a local development strategy, trends in startup firms in recent decades, and the return of “bubble” talk about the technology market as he delivered the keynote address at the recent Emerging Venture Leaders Summit in St. Louis.
He said that he sees new technologies and venture capital creating an innovative business culture that will drive regional growth for many years to come. He contrasted this strategy with what has traditionally been done in many communities — trying to lure established businesses away from other locations.
Videos and photos from the event can be found at this link.
LITTLE ROCK TECH PARK ISSUES RFP FOR $17.5 MILLION FINANCING PACKAGE
The Little Rock Technology Park Authority Board on Monday issued a 67-page “Request for Proposals” (RFP) seeking bids from local banks to finance the first phase of a $30 million planned multi-phase downtown development to boost the city’s much-talked about startup and tech community.
KAUFMANN FOUNDATION ACCEPTING GRANT PROPOSALS FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL-FOCUSED NONPROFITS THROUGH JULY 31
The Kauffman Foundation is accepting grant proposals from nonprofit organizations that are seeking to expand programs that demonstrate evidence of success in supporting entrepreneurs in the U.S.
In particular, the foundation is looking for those organizations that are exempt from taxes under sections 501(c)(3) or 115(2) of the Internal Revenue Code organizations that are helping entrepreneurs solve some or all of the challenges found at this link.
The Kansas City-based private foundation said it is interested in working with organizations eager to develop learning or research agendas that can help identify the best ways to support entrepreneurs. Up to $2 million in the form of grants that are between $250,000 and $500,000 each will be paid over two years, officials said. The grant program came out of the foundation’s new strategic plan. The deadline for applications is July 31. For more information, click here.
USDA ANNOUNCES NEW BROADBAND FUNDING FOR RURAL AREAS
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday announced $85.8 million in funding to strengthen access to high speed broadband for rural America.
“Broadband is fundamental to expanding economic opportunity and job creation in rural areas, and it is as vital to rural America’s future today as electricity was when USDA began bringing power to rural America 80 years ago,” said Vilsack.
Since 2009, USDA has brought new or improved broadband access to more than 1.5 million households, businesses and community education, and public safety facilities. USDA’s broadband efforts are part of President Obama’s efforts to expand high speed broadband to all Americans. Learn more about the program here.