SBA accepting National Small Business Week Awards nominations

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Seattle District Office is accepting nominations for its 2018 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Washington Small Business Person of the Year.

Since 1963, National Small Business Week recognizes the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities and the nation’s economy.

The dedicated website – sba.gov/nsbw/awards – provides forms, criteria and guidelines for submitting a nomination.

SBA Seattle District Awards given in celebration of National Small Business Week, April 29- May 5, 2018, include the following:

• Washington Small Business Person of the Year – winner is also finalist for National Small Business Person of the Year

• Washington Small Business Exporter of the Year – winner is also finalist for National Small Business Exporter of the Year

• Washington 8(a) Graduate of the Year – winner is also finalist for National Small Business Exporter of the Year

• SBA Seattle District Office Encore Entrepreneur of the Year – this award honors a business owner who launched a business after the age of 50

• SBA Seattle District Family-Owned Small Business of the Year – this award honors a family-owned and operated small business which has been passed on from one generation to another with at least a 15-year track record

• SBA Seattle District Millennial Entrepreneur of the Year – this award honors a business owner who is under the age of 35 and has demonstrated a history of success and growth

• SBA Seattle District Office Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year – this award honors a veteran-owned and operated business that demonstrates a history of success and growth

• SBA Seattle District Office Financial Services Champion of the Year – this award honors those who advocate and promote small business through financial services above and beyond the call of their professional duties and responsibilities

• SBA Seattle District Office Small Business Champion of the Year – this award honors those who advocate and promote small business above and beyond the call of their professional duties and responsibilities

SBA National Awards include the following:

• Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery

• Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery

• Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official

• Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer

• 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 Excellence in Service Award

“In addition to creating jobs, small business owners create a sense of community in our neighborhoods,” SBA Seattle District Director Kerrie Hurd said. “Small Business Week awards are an opportunity to recognize and honor small business owners and champions for their contributions.”

Preliminary nominations must be submitted no later than 3 p.m. PST Dec. 18, 2017 using the short form available at tinyurl.com/WA-Awards-18.

Final nominations must be submitted no later than 12 p.m. Jan. 9, 2018. All nomination packages must be hand delivered or mailed to: SBA Seattle District Office, Attn: 2018 NSBW, 2401 4th Ave., Suite 450, Seattle, WA 98121.

Email submissions of SBA Awards forms will not be accepted as they contain personally identifiable information (PII).

For more information, visit sba.gov/nsbw/awards or contact Desiree Albrecht at 206-553-2664 or desiree.albecht@sba.gov.