Small Business Awards

Small Business Person of the Year Award

An individual who owns and operates or bears principal responsibility for operation of a small business may be nominated. Partners who jointly own and operate a business may be nominated as a “team” so long as the team consists of four or fewer individuals.

Entrepreneurial Success Award

This award goes to a nominee who received SBA assistance to help their business grow, and the business subsequently became a large business according to SBA size standards. The nominee must be an individual who owns and operates, or who bears principal responsibility for operating, the business. Partners may be nominated as a team so long as the team consists of four or fewer individuals.

Family-Owned Business of the Year

Nominees must serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating a family-owned and operated small business with at least a 15-year track record, which has been passed from one generation to another.

Small Business Exporter

Any individual who owns and operates a small business that has had success in exporting, as shown by such factors as increased sales, creative marketing strategies and encouragement of other small businesses to export, may be nominated.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Any individual who serves as a majority owner and operates or bears principal responsibility for operating a small business with at least a three year track record, and who will not have reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2011 may be nominated.