Gov. Chet Culver has proclaimed this week Entrepreneurship Week in Iowa as part of a new national effort to promote entrepreneurship.

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA kicked off last Saturday in California at Stanford University. The new event is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Inc. magazine and The New York Times. More than 800 organizations across the country have signed on to promote the week, including the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

More than 30 events are scheduled across Iowa through Saturday in conjunction with the national initiative. On Wednesday, the New Iowa Entrepreneur’s Center will host “Plugged In,” an event to reintroduce Central Iowa business owners to public and private resources to support small business owners. On Thursday, the Venture Network of Iowa will host its forum in Des Moines to bring venture capital firms and angel investors together to hear presentations from early-stage companies seeking venture capital.

Visit www.iowalifechanging.com to get more information on EntrepreneurshipWeek USA and Iowa’s statewide events.