U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Indiana District Office Celebrates National Small Business Week April 28 – May 4
Events highlight and honor the economic power and community impact of Indiana small businesses.
The U.S. Small Business Administration kicks off National Small Business Week in Washington D.C. April 28th recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Indiana will celebrate National Small Business Week with a mix of in-person and virtual small business events designed to open doors, inspire, and invigorate Hoosier entrepreneurs.
“Small business is the backbone of the American economy,” said SBA Indiana District Director Stacey Poynter, “and they make up 99.4 % of the companies located in our bold state and employ almost half of the workforce. For over 70 years as a federal agency, the SBA has been instrumental supporting their growth through a network of free resources, tools, training, and access to funding. We’re proud and we’re honored to be able to do what we do for entrepreneurs and truthfully, every week is small business week. But during National Small Business Week, we like to turn up the spotlight on entrepreneurs just a little bit brighter.”
SBA Indiana-based signature events:
- Roadmap to Small Business Fair at Indianapolis’ John Bonner Neighborhood Centers April 29;
- SBA 8(a) Recruitment Summit online workshop May 1; and
- Powering Rural - The Heartland Tour joint SBA Indiana & USDA Rural Development Business & Cooperative Programs teams making a special National Small Business Week stop in Kokomo May 3.
All SBA Indiana National Small Business Week events and workshops are free. Details and registration information can be found on sba.gov/in.
National Small Business Week Awards:
Another key component of National Small Business Week are the prestigious and highly competitive SBA National Small Business Week Awards highlighting outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and resource partner organizations from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Indianapolis native DuJuan McCoy is the winner of this year’s SBA Indiana Small Business Person of the Year award and is in the running to win SBA Small Business Person of the Year at the national level. That award will be announced by the SBA at ceremonies in Washington D.C April 29th. McCoy owns Circle City Broadcasting whose holdings include Indianapolis television station WISH-TV.
"Having launched my entrepreneurial TV Station career back in 2008 (during the financial crisis) via an SBA-backed loan, I am truly honored to receive the 2024 Small Business Person of the Year award for the state of Indiana,” McCoy said. “Thank you to the U.S. Small Business Administration for this incredible honor and for recognizing the great work that we at Circle City Broadcasting continue to do every day!”
SBA Indiana will recognize McCoy and three other National Small Business Week award winners during a luncheon in downtown Indianapolis May 3. Honorees include:
- SBA Indiana Exporter of the Year – WSI Technologies, Indianapolis – Jim Halsmer, President
- SBA Indiana SBDC Excellence & Innovation Center Award – Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, Crown Point
- SBA Indiana Women’s Business Center of Excellence – WEOC WBC at the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Fort Wayne
To learn more about SBA Indiana resources, services, and events please visit sba.gov/in. You can also follow us on X @SBA_Indiana and LinkedIn @SBA Indiana.
About SBA National Small Business Week
In the spirit of National Small Business Week, we celebrate the unprecedented growth of entrepreneurship in the United States, marked by 16 million new business applications since the Biden-Harris Administration took office. This surge highlights the dynamism and innovation that America’s entrepreneurs bring to our local communities. The SBA will continue to champion the endeavors of small businesses and the vital role they play in driving economic prosperity across the nation.