In a previous post, I discussed a study linking job creation to “young” firms.

Now, the Kauffman Foundation has issued an update on entrepreneurship for 2009: their excellent Index of Entrepreneurial Activity.  Surprisingly, the index shows that 2009 yielded a larger number of business startups than either of the previous two years, and ranked Oklahoma and Montana as the states with the highest rates of entrepreneurial activity, followed by Arizona, Texas, and Idaho.  Further, 2009 had the highest rates of activity in the last 14 years.  So – when larger firms and established industries are shedding jobs, perhaps there are fewer obstructions to people striking out on their own.  This seems to bode well for our future – if we can connect these entrepreneurs with the support and environment they need for their businesses to reach maturity.

The study is HERE.