FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Today, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and its Office of Entrepreneurship are announcing Nevada’s inclusion as a Founding State of America the Entrepreneurial, a national movement to celebrate and expand entrepreneurship ahead of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026.
The effort, created by the national nonprofit Right to Start, recognizes that every entrepreneur in the nation has the right to forge their own destiny.
“Innovation thrives when entrepreneurs have clear pathways, strong support systems, and access to the right resources,” said Melissa Saavedra, director of the Office of Entrepreneurship. “As a Founding State, Nevada is reinforcing the right to start a business by investing in policies and programs focused on removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and empowering entrepreneurs in every corner of the state to turn ideas into lasting economic impact.”
“We’re excited to have Nevada as a Founding State of America the Entrepreneurial,” said Kim Lane, executive director of America the Entrepreneurial and chief operating officer of Right to Start. “We’ve worked closely with the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which is a national leader in advancing the cause of entrepreneurship. Nevada is now adding yet another key dimension to its national leadership on entrepreneurship.”
Small businesses play a significant role in Nevada’s economy, accounting for 99% of all businesses in the state. According to UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research as of 2024, 40% of all businesses operating in the state of Nevada with employees were created after the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2022, small businesses with one to 500 employees made up 45% of total private employment in the state, up from 42% prior to the pandemic. Nationally, new and young businesses create most net job growth in the U.S. Every 1% increase in entrepreneurial activity in a state correlates with a 2% decline in poverty.
As part of GOED’s Innovation-Based Economic Development division, the Office of Entrepreneurship connects Nevada’s entrepreneurs and small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. The office was established in 2023 when Governor Lombardo signed into law AB77, known as the Right to Start Act. This landmark legislation led to Nevada becoming the first state in the country to have a dedicated Office of Entrepreneurship.
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.