This is not about Montana but hopefully this will be good news for Montana businesses and innovators.  Developing ideas into products and services can be a major project that requires resources and capital.  This new office at the US Dept. of Commerce is to provide both.

Commerce Secretary Locke Announces New Commerce Initiatives to Foster Innovation and Entrepreneurship

WASHINGTON—U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced today his plans to create a new Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce and launch a National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Both substantial new initiatives will help leverage the entire federal government on behalf of promoting entrepreneurship in America. The new office is expected to announce additional initiatives in the coming months.

Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The mission of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship is to unleash and maximize the economic potential of new ideas by removing barriers to entrepreneurship and the development of high-growth and innovation-based businesses. The office will report directly to Locke and focus specifically on identifying issues and programs most important to entrepreneurs. Working closely with the White House and other federal agencies, this new office will drive policies that help entrepreneurs translate new ideas, products and services into economic growth. The office will focus on the following areas:

- Encouraging Entrepreneurs through Education, Training, and Mentoring
- Improving Access to Capital
- Accelerating Technology Commercialization of Federal R&D
- Strengthening Interagency Collaboration and Coordination
- Providing Data, Research, and Technical Resources for Entrepreneurs
- Exploring Policy Incentives to Support Entrepreneurs and Investors

Read the Press Release