Highlighting the impact that partnerships among academic institutions, research centers and government organizations can have, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently held its annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at The Ohio State University.

The event connected local business leaders with representatives from the SEC for panel discussions to explore how capital formation options are working for small businesses, such as those in the Midwest, as well as diversity and capital formation. Participants worked in groups to formulate specific policy recommendations for the SEC.

The forum, held at the Fawcett Center, was presented by Fisher College of Business and The National Center for the Middle Market.

“Events such as this forum serve as powerful reminders of the impact that our academic institution can have on business — through the development of agile leaders, the creation of relevant research and the establishment of meaningful partnerships,” said Anil K. Makhija, dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business at Fisher. “We are delighted to have helped connect the business community with this unique opportunity to inform and shape government policy.”

The 37th-annual forum marked just the second time the event was hosted outside of Washington, D.C. The 2017 event was held at the University of Texas at Austin. Columbus’ reputation as an emerging leader in entrepreneurship and startups proved appealing to the SEC, which sought to hear directly from small businesses and investors.

“As I have said before, there are many good, talented people, and many promising companies, between the coasts,” said SEC Chairman Jay Clayton. “Austin, Nashville and Columbus all share something in common. They stand out for their ability to help small businesses grow outside of the traditional areas along the coasts. Earlier this year, Columbus was ranked as one of the top five cities for entrepreneurs and startups out of more than 300 cities across the United States. And this past October, another publication ranked Columbus first out of the top 10 rising cities for startups.”

“Holding this event in Columbus provided us the opportunity to hear directly from small businesses and their investors on ways to improve our regulatory system.”