Message from President Royce Engstrom.

• Author: Engstrom, Royce
• Position: Brief article

This year BBER attracted record crowds for its Montana Economic Outlook seminars titled "Making Montana the First Best Place: How Entrepreneurship is Creating High-Paying Jobs." Statewide interest in entrepreneurship has never been higher, and we're receiving national recognition for our achievements. In 2013 Montana was named the No. 1 state for startups, according to the annual Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. Another report ranked Missoula No. 13 on its list of top cities in the nation for high-tech startups.

For decades now, the University of Montana has collaborated with other leaders in education, business, and government to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem to support our students and alumni as they take their good ideas and grow them into businesses.

* Opened this February, the Blackstone LaunchPad at UM provides resources and guidance to students of all majors and reinforces entrepreneurship as a viable career path.

* Now entering its 25th year, the John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition is a statewide event that brings student entrepreneurs to campus to compete for $29,000 in prize...