WASHINGTON – In a detailed news release Monday, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the kickoff for the 2016 National Small Business Week will be held in Washington, D.C. on May 1-2. During this two-day event awardees from all across the United States and her territories will be recognized in 17 different categories ranging from exporting, outreach, contracting, lending, disaster recovery to manufacturing and research and development.
In addition to the award recognition ceremonies there is also a Cyber Security Panel discussion led by SBA Deputy Administrator Doug Kramer and experts from Microsoft, ADP and ESET to discuss cybersecurity tips and trends.
Media are invited to attend all events. Speakers and awardees will be made available for interviews.
Sunday, May 1
| WHAT: | 2016 NSBW Kick-off and award ceremony |
| WHEN: | 7:15 p.m. - 8:30 pm EDT |
| WHERE: | Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 14th St. and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington D.C. |
| WHO: | SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet will provide the keynote address and there will be remarks from Chase for Business, the Presenting Cosponsor of National Business Week. |
The awards that will be presented include:
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Center Award
- Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
- Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year
- SCORE Chapter of the Year
- Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year
- Small Business Investment Company of the Year
- Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official
- Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer
- Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery
| HOW: | Press must RSVP for the event to: terrence.sutherland@sba.gov by Noon May 1, 2016 |
Monday, May 2
| WHAT: | 2016 NSBW Award Ceremony and Cybersecurity Panel Discussion |
| WHEN: | 8:15 am- Noon EDT |
| WHERE: | United States Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20037 |
| WHO: | SBA Administrator Contreras-Sweet will announce the National Small Business Person of the year at this event. Nominees from each state and territory will be present to see who will be crowned the next National Small Business Person of the Year. |
Other awards that will be presented include:
- Exporter of the Year
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
- 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors)
- Services winner
- Manufacturing winner
- Research and Development winner
Cybersecurity Panel Discussion
| Time: | 11:00 a.m.- Noon ET |
Small businesses are becoming a larger target for criminals seeking to access sensitive data because attackers are well aware that small businesses have limited resources or personnel dedicated to information system security. In an effort to help keep your small business secure, hear from SBA Deputy Administrator Doug Kramer along with experts from Microsoft, ADP, and ESET discuss cybersecurity tips and trends.
| HOW: | Press must RSVP for the event to: terrence.sutherland@sba.gov by Noon May 1, 2016 |
Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2016 SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA/SCORE programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: smallbusinessweek@sba.gov (link sends e-mail). SCORE is partially funded by SBA Cooperative Agreement No. SBAHQ-14-S-0001.
National Small Business Week 2016 sponsors include: Chase for Business, SCORE, ADP, Colonial Life, Intuit, Sam’ s Club, Square, YP, ESET, Facebook, Instagram, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) and VEDC.