NASHVILLE (AP) — Scott Case, CEO of the Startup America Partnership, says Tennessee officials understand that fostering entrepreneurship will drive economic prosperity.

In a statement released Monday by the state, Case said Tennessee is well positioned to become a leading entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.

His comment came as the state announced he will be keynote speaker Sept. 22 in Nashville at the 58th annual Governor's Conference on Economic and Community Development.

The Startup America Partnership is a private organization working to help young companies succeed in order to grow jobs.

Case was founding chief technology officer of Priceline.