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Our office presents national and district level awards. National-level awards, including Small Business Person of the Year, go on to compete for additional recognition and some winners are invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The district level winners are honored locally. Read on for general guidelines for all available District Office awards.
General guidelines
Award eligibility
Who is eligible to be nominated for this award?
Nominees for this award must meet both of the following eligibility requirements:
Any legal resident of the United States or its Territories who owns and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business may be nominated. Partners who jointly own and operate a small business may be nominated as a “team,” so long as the number of individuals in the team nomination does not exceed four (4).
Who is NOT eligible to be nominated for this award?
- Individuals or teams who own or operate a business defined as “other than small” (i.e., large businesses) for its primary industry under the applicable SBA size standards or
- Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.
Who may submit nominations for this award?
- Individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States such as trade and professional associations and business organizations, may submit nominations.
- Individuals may self-nominate.
How to apply
What information must the nomination package contain?
Nominations must contain the information below. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered.
- A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nominee Background form. For “team” nominations, a background form is required for each team member;
- A completed Authorization, Grant & Release of Materials form. For “team” nominations, a release form is required for each team member.
- A completed SBA Form 3315, District Office nomination form.
- An original 8 in. x 10 in. or 5 in. x 7 in. photo of the nominee or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi is required; photocopies are not acceptable. For “team” nominations, a photo of each nominee or group photo is acceptable; and
- Additional supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, nomination letter (if not self-nominated), and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation may not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered.
Where are the nominations to be sent?
All nominations must be submitted electronically to the upload link in the "About the District Office awards" section below. Nominations should be scanned and submitted as one full document. Photo should be submitted as a separate attachment.
When is the deadline for nominations?
Nominations must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. ET on December 5, 2024 (3:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. MT/1:00 p.m. PT).
How are winners selected?
What are the evaluation/selection criteria?
In evaluating the nomination packages, the judges will look at the following criteria:
- Business’ staying power, growth in employees, increase in sales, improved financial position, and innovativeness of product or service offered;
- Contributions to community— evidence of the use of his/her personal time and resources to contribute to its community; and
- Additional criteria to be determined by the individual District Office.
What are the selection procedures?
The District Office Award will be selected by the appropriate District Director based on, but not restricted to, the recommendations of the panel of judges of federal or non-federal employees.
About the District Office awards
To be nominated and receive one of the following local awards, the small business nominee must fit within the category of the award, demonstrate success in business, and complete and submit the required nomination package information. Incomplete packages will not be accepted.
Read on for local award nomination criteria and to submit your nomination.
Champion of Diverse Small Businesses or Diverse-Owned Small Business of the Year
An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for Diverse business owners may be nominated or a diverse-owned small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. The small business must be at least 51% owned and operated by one or more diverse individuals. Champion nominees may or may not be diverse individuals. Note: Diverse is defined as including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
Veteran Small Business Champion or Veteran-Owned Small 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. The small business must be at least 51% owned and operated by one or more veterans. Champion nominees may or may not be veterans.
Women in Business Champion or Women-Owned Small 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. The small business must be at least 51% owned and operated by one or more women. Champion nominees may or may not be women.
Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
A family-owned business that has passed from one generation to another and the owner has responsibility for operating the business. Nominees must serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating the small business with at least a 15-year track record.
Rural Small Business of the Year
A small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. The business must be located at an address designated as rural, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Property Eligibility search tool.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
A small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. The small business must be at least 51% owned and operated by one or more individuals who are 30 or under on June 1, 2025.
Financial Services Champion of the Year
An Individual who assists small businesses through advocacy to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services.
Small Business Journalist of the Year
A journalist representing television, radio, electronic, or print media who reports and champions small business issues.
Evaluation criteria
All small business categories, including Young Entrepreneur, will follow the general eligibility guidelines and judging criteria for the National Small Business Person of the Year Award category.
Please address each of the listed judging criteria items and complete and include the Financial Summary data chart from Form 3301 #8 in the SBA Form 3315, District Office Awards, or in a nomination letter.
Champion nomination packages evaluation criteria
Champion nominees may or may not be small business owners and are not required to have received SBA assistance. Please address each of the items below in the SBA Form 3315, District Office Awards, or in a nomination letter.
- Volunteer efforts beyond business/professional responsibilities to advance small business interest within the community, state and/or nation (specific to award category).
- Demonstrated efforts to improve conditions in the small business community, not solely for individual personal advancement (specific to award category).
- Volunteer efforts to provide professional services to the small business community in a legal, legislative, managerial, or financial capacity (specific to the award category).
- Demonstrated accomplishments in advising small business groups of opportunities within the overall business community (specific to the award category).
- Other accomplishments demonstrating the nominee’s merit as an effective advocate for small business interests (specific to the award category).
Small Business Journalist of the Year evaluation criteria
Please address each of the items below in the SBA Form 3315, District Office Awards, or in a nomination letter.
- Concerted efforts to increase public understanding of the importance of small business contributions to the economy.
- Contribution of news and feature stories, editorials, columns, and commentary that highlight and analyze small business issues.
- Voluntary community service aimed at enhancing small business opportunity and growth.
- Other achievements that exemplify the nominee’s media efforts to improve the understanding of the role of small business in the U.S. economy.
SBA will make the above-referenced awards to eligible small businesses at the San Diego District level only. Awards for Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year will be forwarded for State, and regional competitions. Regional winners will be forwarded for National competition.
Need help?
If you have questions about our local awards, please contact Cynthia Harris.