For more than 50 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recognized top entrepreneurs and small business owners for their achievements and dedication to their local communities and to our nation’s economy. Every fall the SBA receives nominations from around the country and this year’s National Small Business Week will take place from April 30th through May 6, 2017.
Small business winners not only have bragging rights as a winner, but there is a ton of media coverage and social media impressions on big networks such as MSNBC, Fox, USA Today, etc. Prior National Small Business Week winners include Ben & Jerry’s, Chobani, Tom’s of Maine and Calloway Golf. Therefore, it’s quite clear that being a past winner may be a positive sign of bigger things to come! Please note that businesses may not be nominated for more than one award and that a panel of judges comprised of SBA employees and non-Federal employees choose the winners.
Awards include:
- Small Business Person of the Year
- Exporter of the Year
- Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery
- Federal Procurement Awards
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors)
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year
- Small Business Investment Company of the Year
- Awards to SBA Resource Partners
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Center Award
- Women's Business Center of Excellence Award
- Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year
Learn More
To learn more about National Small Business Week and how to apply, click here. The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM) is dedicated to helping small businesses as well, providing financial solutions to businesses looking to increase foreign sales, while mitigating the risk when partaking in international transactions (e.g., nonpayment protection). To speak to your local EXIM rep, click below:
