MAYORS

To renew America, we must renew our entrepreneurial spirit. As we celebrate our nation’s 250th startup birthday, every mayor has the power to make a difference by taking simple, turnkey actions that put entrepreneurship back at the heart of the American narrative. 92% of voters say it’s difficult to start a business today. ‍At the same time, 94% of voters, across party lines, agree that it’s vital to America’s future that everyone has a fair chance to start and grow a business.

‍America the Entrepreneurial, a campaign of Right to Start, is a national call to reignite the spirit of innovation that built our country.
‍

become a founding Mayor

By becoming a Founding Mayor, you join a national network of governors, mayors, legislators, and local officials across the country committed to bringing entrepreneurship back to the heart of America's story. Founding Mayors receive key resources and information to pursue public engagement and substantive policy changes in their state. By becoming a Founding Mayor, you are committing to taking action to make your community entrepreneur-friendly.

become a founding MAYOR

DIRECTIVE / Executive order/ Resolution

Entrepreneurship is the primary engine of economic prosperity, responsible for creating homegrown jobs, spurring innovation, and driving mobility across our communities. To support Mayors moving from vision to implementation, we have developed a framework for executive action that streamlines the process of lowering barriers and expanding access to entrepreneurship. This model template provides a ready-to-use roadmap for any administration looking to place entrepreneurs at the center of their policy agenda.

DOWNLOAD THE TEMPLATE

proclamation

Issuing an America the Entrepreneurial proclamation is a simple, high-visibility way to champion entrepreneurship in your community. This proclamation publicly affirms your belief in the entrepreneurial spirit and your commitment to support the entrepreneurs who create jobs, solve problems, and strengthen your local economy.

Proclamation

community Spotlight: Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors) made history by becoming the nation’s first "Founding Mayor" of the America the Entrepreneurial initiative. In his formal proclamation, Mayor Holt joined a national effort to revitalize the American startup spirit ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. The proclamation celebrates the entrepreneurs who drive the local economy and formally declares Oklahoma City's commitment to encouraging entrepreneurship as a core civic priority. Beyond the proclamation, Mayor Holt is championing a project to open a center is designed to provide direct support to local entrepreneurs.

Press Release

Ready to share the news? Download our press release template to help your communications team get the word out.

take action

Becoming a Founding Mayor is a commitment to action. Here are some ways Founding Mayors are making entrepreneurship a priority in their cities:
‍
‍Conduct a Review of Business Licenses and Permits. Signal that your city is serious about reducing barriers. A time-bound review shows entrepreneurs that you mean it.

Form an Entrepreneurship Council. Convene the builders already in your city. Give entrepreneurs a seat at the table and a direct line to your office.
‍
‍Create a One-Stop-Shop. Make your city the easiest place in your state to start a business. Centralize the resources entrepreneurs need to start and grow in your community.

ACCESS THE PLAYBOOK

Visit our State Policy Resource page for key examples and more information, or connect with a member of our policy team at policy@righttostart.org.

America's founding mayors

Mayors from across the country are joining the movement every day. Meet some of the Founding Mayors that are shining a spotlight on the importance of entrepreneurship in their community.