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WASHINGTON >> President Barack Obama has tapped fellow Punahou School alumnus Steve Case to lead a consolidated effort to spur new start-up businesses, the White House has announced.
"Startup America" is the Obama’s campaign to emphasize job creation while downplaying new economic spending initiatives that could face congressional opposition.
The appointment of Case, the co-founder of AOL, gives President Barack Obama’s emphasis on the economy a second prominent business face in two weeks. Last week, the president named General Electric chief executive Jeff Immelt as head of a presidential advisory council on competitiveness.
With unemployment stubbornly stuck above 9 percent, the White House has drafted a series of initiatives designed to put job creation efforts on display. "Startup America" focuses on innovation and entrepreneurship and combined administration programs already underway with new ideas to leverage private-sector investment in start-up businesses.
"Entrepreneurs embody the promise of America: the belief that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard and see it through, you can succeed in this country," Obama said in a statement. "And in fulfilling this promise, entrepreneurs also play a critical role in expanding our economy and creating jobs."
The administration launched the project Monday with a high-profile White House event featuring scores of entrepreneurs, some of whom offered testimonials to the job creation possibilities that new businesses can bring to the economy.
"We want to celebrate the work of entrepreneurs, shine a spotlight on entrepreneurs," Case said.
Case, who is the son of attorney Daniel Case and the cousin of former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, is a 1976 graduate of Punahou, while Obama graduated in 1979.
