The U.S. Small Business Administration is soliciting nominations for the 2013 Small Business Week Awards. Each year since 1963, U.S Presidents have called for a nationwide celebration of Small Business Week to acknowledge the significant contributions of small businesses to the national economy and society.
Acting District Director Robert DuCotè emphasized the importance of these awards, “Small Business Week Awards give us the chance to recognize the hard work and dedication of our local small businesses and to showcase the impact these businesses have on the community.”
The awards categories for which nominations may be submitted are:
- Small Business Person of the Year: A small business owner who has developed an outstanding, growing business, has overcome adversity, designed an innovative product(s), created jobs, increased sales and profits, and contributed to the community.
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year: A small business that has provided the government with outstanding goods and services as a prime contractor.
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year: A small business that has provided the government and industry with outstanding goods and services as subcontractors.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence: A large prime contractor that has excelled in their utilization of small businesses as suppliers and subcontractors. One award may be awarded in each of the following five categories: manufacturing; service; research and development; construction; and utilities.
- 8(a) Program Graduate of the Year: A formerly certified 8(a) business participant that has been graduated from the 8(a) program for at least a year as of April 1, 2012. The firm does not have to currently be a small business, but must show growth, uniqueness and participation in community projects.
- Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award: A Small Business Development Center (SBDC) that shows excellence in providing value to small businesses by advancing program delivery and management through innovation.
- Small Business Exporter of the Year: A small business owner who has significantly increased export sales and has encouraged other firms to export, increased employment through exports, and used innovative methods to create markets abroad.
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: To be considered a young entrepreneur, the individual must serve as a majority owner and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with a three year track record, and who will not have reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2013.
- Home-Based Business of the Year: Any individual who owns and operates a small business from their home.
- Family-Owned Business of the Year: Family owned and operated small business which has been passed on from one generation to another. Nominees must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating the business with at least a 15-year track record.
- Entrepreneurial Excellence Award: An individual must own and operate a business initially launched as small business according to SBA size standards and has subsequently developed into a large business.
- Small Business Champion Award: Champions are persons who use their professional expertise and talents in activities that promote small business. These pursuits include volunteering their time and services to small business interests, participating in small business group and advocating the cause of small business in the legislative process.
Nominations will be judged on staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, improved financial position, innovativeness of product or service offered, response to adversity, and contributions to the community.
