Concord, NH – The New Hampshire District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has officially opened nominations for the 2024 National and District Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year Award. Submit a nomination if you know a small business that has demonstrated extraordinary innovation, growth, community engagement, or resilience. Don’t pass up the chance to recognize the entrepreneurial spirit that propels our economy ahead.
“Each year the New Hampshire SBA is thrilled to recognize and highlight outstanding small business owners and their advocates who have developed innovative products, successfully advanced their businesses, and contributed significantly to their local communities,” Amy Bassett, the SBA District Director, said. “A National Small Business Week award is one of the nation’s highest honors of achievement and we look forward to receiving nominations from partners, lenders, and small business champions so that we may have the opportunity to highlight New Hampshire’s deserving entrepreneurs.”
The following prizes are presented by the SBA in honor of National and District Small Business Week:
Small Business Person of the Year Award: Nominees must have had primary responsibility for running a small business for at least three years before being nominated, and they must have demonstrated business success as well as contributions to their local communities.
Small Business Exporter of the Year: The SBA’s Small Business Exporter of the Year award honors people for their success and commitment to exporting goods or services.
District Office Awards in New Hampshire:
Jeffrey Butland Family: Owned Small Business of the Year: Any family-owned and operated small business with a 15-year track record that has been passed down from one generation to the next.
Minority Small Business Owner: Any individual who is a minority, owns at least 51% of a small business and operates it may be nominated.
Any individual(s) who owns at least 51% of a small business and is a veteran of the United States military forces may be nominated.
Women Small Business Owners: Any woman/woman who owns at least 51% of a small business and operates it may be nominated.
Microenterprise: Any person or persons who created, own, and operate a business with 5 or fewer employees (including the owner).
Young Entrepreneur: Any individual(s) under the age of 30 on June 30, 2024, who owns at least 51% of a small firm and operates it may be nominated.
Small company Manufacturer: Any small company manufacturer is eligible to be nominated. Emphasizing demonstrable innovation and/or commitment to a social cause, purchasing locally, and so forth.
Home-based Business Owner: Any small business that operates from a home office location is eligible for nomination.
Financial Services Champion: Any individual who advocates on behalf of small businesses to promote the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services.
To be nominated for and receive one of the following awards, the nominee must fit within the award category, have a three-year track record, and have received at least one type of SBA assistance such as an SBA loan, SCORE counseling, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) assistance, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center (VBOC) assistance, Women’s Business Center (WBC) assistance, government contracting assistance, disaster assistance, Emerging Leaders Initiative, or BDC assistance.
A completed background form (SBA Form 3300) and the SBA District Office Award Form (SBA Form 3315) are required for a full nomination package. Selected winners from all New Hampshire categories will compete for the title of New England-owned Business of the Year, along with winners from all six district area offices.
Download nomination forms, criteria, and guidelines from the SBA’s dedicated webpage at www.sba.gov/nsbw. The New Hampshire District Nomination Guidelines and district award categories are also available at https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week/district-office-awards
To be considered, all nominations must be received by the Concord District Office via electronic submission ONLY to the District’s BOX account by 4 p.m. ET on December 7, 2023. Packages that are incomplete will not be accepted.
Please email Cheryl.Croto@sba.gov for more information or a copy of the National/Concord NH District Nomination Guidelines.
Concerning National Small Business Week
Since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation recognizing the essential contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners as National Small Business Week. More than half of all Americans own or work for a small business, and they account for almost two out of every three new employment created in the United States each year. For additional information, go to www.sba.gov/nsbw.
The Small Business Administration of the United States
The Small Business Administration of the United States fuels the American dream of business ownership. As the single go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the federal government’s strength, the SBA provides entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and assistance they need to establish, grow, or expand their firms, or recover from a declared catastrophe. It provides services through a vast network of SBA field offices and collaborations with public and private organizations. For additional information, go to www.sba.gov.
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