Recognize Excellence: Nominate for National Small Business Week 2025
2025 NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
The SBA Orange County Inland / Empire district OFFICE is LOOKING to honor the Brightest and Best Small Businesses in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Maybe this year will be your Turn!
To nominate yourself or a small business owner in your area download related forms, criteria, and guidelines, visit sba.gov/nsbw. All nominations must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. EST or 1:00 pm PST on December 5, 2024.
Contact Sylvia Gutierrez for local nomination forms at sylvia.gutierrez@sba.gov.
NATIONAL CATEGORIES
SMALL BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR: A business owner who has developed an outstanding, growing business and has overcome adversity, designed innovative product(s), created jobs, increased sales and profits and contributed to the community. Business owner received SBA assistance. Business owner owns majority of percentage.
EXPORTER OF THE YEAR: A 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. Business owner received SBA assistance.
8(a) GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: All formerly certified 8(a) business participants that graduated from the 8(a) program for at least a year as of April 1, 2024. The firm does not have to currently be a small business.
SCORE NATIONAL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR (COTY): The SCORE National Chapter of the Year (COTY) Award honors a SCORE Chapter for excellence due to the significant impact that mentoring and education services have had on the small business success in the community, as evidenced by demonstrating exceptional service growth, successful outreach, and outstanding client satisfaction.
VETERANS BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTER OF THE YEAR: The award should focus on the work of the VBOC and not on the host organization. The VBOC director may be highlighted in the application, but the award should be about the work the VBOC as a whole. Organizations hosting multiple VBOC grants may submit separate nominations for each VBOC.
WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER OF THE YEAR EXCELLENCE AWARD: The Women's Business Center of Excellence Award honors an SBA-funded Women’s Business Center (WBC) for its excellence and innovation in assisting diverse women entrepreneurs by providing a wide variety of training and counseling. The award should focus on the work of the WBC and not on the host organization. The women’s business center director may be highlighted in the application, but the award should be about the work of the WBC as a whole. Organizations hosting multiple WBC grants may submit separate nominations for each WBC.
SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT CO OF THE YEAR AWARD: Business or organization that received an SBIR or STTR grant award to further their concept. Entity can demonstrate best use of investment funds to stimulate technical innovation, business impact, broader social and economic benefits with such product. Entity must exemplify the mission and goals of the SBIR/STTR program.
DISTRICT CATEGORIES
COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD: Any organization, department, or chamber that shows significant support for economic development, improved communication with business community, builds trust, creating an environment for business growth and retention, job growth and access to resources.
WOMAN OWNED SMALL BUSINSS OF THE YEAR: Woman owned business with a minimum of three years in business. Must be 51% woman owned. Demonstrate business success and growth. Show creativity, leadership, character, and determination. SBA assistance preferred but not required.
FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Family owned and operated business by a family or passed on to the next generation. Nominees must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating the small business with a minimum of 5 year-track record.
MICRO-ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: Has a growing business with less than nine employees. Received assistance from the SBA network of resources and lenders. Has been in business for more than one year.
VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS HERO OF THE YEAR: Nominees must have worked to increase business opportunities for veterans to own and prosper in small businesses.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: A business owner under 40 years old, running their own business, shows creativity, leadership, character, and determination. Business must be profitable, show potential for growth. Young entrepreneur must be in business for at least three years.
Get more info here: sba.gov/nsbw