SBA seeks ‘amazing stories’
The Small Business Administration is looking for small business owners with amazing stories to tell. The agency is currently accepting nominations for the 2018 National Small Business Week Awards.
Since 1963, National Small Business Week, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the impact of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.
According to the SBA’s website, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. Small businesses create an estimated two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
Nominations for the Eastern Pennsylvania and national Small Business Awards can be made by individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community. In addition, individuals can self-nominate.
The nominations primarily come from resource partners and lenders that work with the SBA — organizations like SCORE, Small Business Development Centers and lending institutions, according to Robert Goza, lead economic development specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration, Eastern Pennsylvania District Office.
Montgomery, Chester, Berks and Delaware counties are part of
“We accept nominations from the more than approximately 727,000 small businesses across the 40 eastern counties of Pennsylvania that make up our District office’s territory. It’s certainly an amazing thing just to be nominated, though I’m sure the winners would tell you it’s even better to win.” — Robert Goza, lead economic development specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration, Eastern Pennsylvania District Office
the SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania District — comprised of a total of 40 counties, according to Goza. There is also a Pittsburgh District office.
“We accept nominations from the more than approximately 727,000 small businesses across the 40 eastern counties of Pennsylvania that make up our District office’s territory,” Goza said. “It’s certainly an amazing thing just to be nominated, though I’m sure the winners would tell you it’s even better to win.”
Goza said that for most industries, SBA defines a small business either in terms of the average number of employees over the past 12 months, or the average annual receipts over the past three years.
“Most businesses probably are able to take it for granted that they are considered a small business — I’ve never had a small business award nomination that was actually from a business that technically wasn’t a small business,” Goza added.
Local Small Business Week awards include: Entrepreneurial Success, Family-Owned Business of the Year, Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
National Small Business Week awards include: Small Business Person of the Year Awards, Small Business Exporter of the Year, 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award, Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award and Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award.
Nomination packages must include a background form on all the nominees, nomination form and photo of the nominee(s). Additional information may be required, depending on the award.
All nominations must be postmarked or hand delivered no later than 3 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2018 to Robert Goza, U.S. Small Business Administration, 1150 1st Ave., Suite 1001, King of Prussia 19406.
Once the nominations are in, Goza said a tiered judging process begins, with winners from Eastern Pennsylvania competing at the state level before moving on to compete regionally across Mid-Atlantic States including: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Small Business Person of the year winners and Exporter of the Year move on to compete in the national awards. Winners of the national awards will be announced April 29 and 30 during National Small Business Week — April 29 through May 5, 2018.
To nominate a small business, first visit the SBA’s Tips and Nominations document found by visiting www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/resource_files/LocalSmallBusinessWeek AwardNominationTipsandGuidelines.pdf.
For forms, criteria and guidelines for submitting nominations for national awards visit www.sba.gov/nsbw/awards.
For more information about SBA programs and services, visit www.sba. gov/pa.
Since its founding on July 30, 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered millions of loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions and other forms of assistance to small businesses.