WASHINGTON — Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, has opened nominations for the 2025 National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards.
For more than 60 years the SBA has been uplifting small businesses in America, and the annual NSBW awards recognize the exemplary achievements, triumphs, contributions and resilience of SBA-assisted individuals and businesses that help to drive the American economy.
“From corner shops to innovation hubs, American entrepreneurs create jobs, invent and provide crucial products and services to their communities, and help define the neighborhoods they serve,” Guzman said. “The SBA is proud to celebrate National Small Business Week each year to lift up the best of that American entrepreneurial spirit and recognize the many essential contributions all of our small businesses make to our nation.”
To nominate a small business owner in your area and download related forms, criteria and guidelines, visit sba.gov/nsbw. All nominations must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. Dec.r 5. National awards will be presented during the NSBW awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 4 and 5, while local honors will be celebrated throughout May.
The SBA’s signature award during NSBW is the Small Business Person of the Year (SBOTY). A business owner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S Virgin Islands and Guam is selected for individual State SBPOTY winner awards and the state award winners will compete for the 2025 National Small Business Person of the Year title.
Nominations will also be accepted for the following award categories:
Small Business Exporter of the Year
SBA 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, 2025.
Family-Owned Business of the Year: This award honors a family-owned and operated business which has been passed on from one generation to the next. The owner must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with at least a 15-year track record.
Financial Services Champion of the Year: An individual who assists small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services for small businesses may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.
Minority Small Business Champion or Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for minority business owners may be nominated or a minority-owned small business owner has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be small business owners.
Veteran Small Business Champion or Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. armed forces may be nominated or a veteran small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be veterans.
Women in Business Champion or Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership may be nominated or a women-owned small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be small business owners.
Government Contracting Champion of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities in Government Contracting. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.
For local area contact and other related information, contact Sara Vescio at sara.vescio@sba.gov or call (716) 604-0013.
