BALTIMORE—The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Baltimore District Office is accepting nominations for the next Maryland “Small Business Person of the Year,” and to compete for the national title during National Small Business Week, May 5-11, 2019. Nominees are also sought for Small Business Exporter of the Year and a variety of local award categories. The submission deadline is Wednesday, January 9, 2019.
Small Business Person of the Year nominees are judged on a variety of criteria, including staying power, growth in employment and sales, innovation of products or services and evidence of contributions to the community.
Local award categories include: Financial Services Champion, Home-Based Small Business, Minority-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Family-Owned Small Business, Entrepreneurial Success, Small Business Exporter, Young Entrepreneur, Rising Star Student Entrepreneur and three industry awards, the Accountant Champion, Insurance Advocate and Attorney Advocate.
Nominations can be made by an individual or an organization. The Maryland program accepts nominations for individuals or businesses operating within the City of Baltimore and all Maryland counties except Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, which are accepted through SBA’s Washington Metro Area District Office. Winners will be announced in late March 2019 and will be honored at the 35th Annual MD Small Business Week Awards Luncheon in Woodlawn, Md. on Thursday, June 6, 2019.
To obtain nomination criteria and submission guidelines, visit us on the web at www.sba.gov/md or contact Rachel Howard at (410) 244-3337 or by email at rachel.howard@sba.gov.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012 has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. For more information visit www.sba.gov.