How to Submit a Winning NSBW Award Nomination Packet

Event description

SBA is accepting nominations for awards for National Small Business Week 2025 (NSBW 2025). NSBW runs May 4 - May 10, 2025, but nominations are due by 3:00 pm CT, December 5, 2024.

We'll provide best practices, tips, and other information for the best possible nomination. We'll share things that will automatically disqualify your application along with suggestions to make your nomination stand out.

The St. Louis District Office will accept awards in the following categories. National awards will be forwarded for additional competition whereas district awards will only be awarded at the district level.

District Awards

• Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The minority person(s) must serve as majority owners of a small business and experience the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business.
• Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The majority owner(s) must have fulfilled a commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces and have experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a small business.
• Women-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The majority owner(s) must be women who have experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business.
• Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: This award honors any small business owner that has operated successfully for the last three years in a community of 50,000 people or less (or is considered rural).
• Family-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: This award honors a family-owned and operated business which has been passed on from one generation to the next.
• Immigrant-Owned Small Business of the Year - Eastern Missouri: This award honors a business that must be owned by an immigrant(s) to the United States who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a small business.
• HUBZone-Owned Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: This award honors a business owner that is located in a HUBZone census tract that has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a small business.
• Start-Up Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The individual must serve as a majority owner and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with no more than two years in business.
• Young Entrepreneur Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The individual must serve as a majority owner and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with a three-year track record, and who will not have reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2025.
• Technology Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: This award honors a technology business in which the owner has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a technology focused business.
• Home Based Small Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: The business must have experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a home-based business.
• Entrepreneurial- Success Award Business of the Year – Eastern Missouri: Individuals must own and operate a business initially launched as a small business according to SBA size standards and subsequently grown into a large business and they must have received SBA assistance to help the businesses grow.
• Small Business Advocate of the Year – Eastern Missouri: An individual who must own a small business and advocate for small businesses either as part of their business or as part of their community engagement.

National Awards

• Small Business of The Year - Any individual or team of less than four individuals who own and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business may be nominated.
• Small Business Exporter of the Year: Any small business which has experienced growth or increased profitability due to exporting products or services.
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year: This award will go to a formerly certified 8(a) Business Development Program participant that graduated from the 8(a) Program for at least one year prior to April 1, 2024. The firm does not have to currently be a small business.

Anyone interested in nominating themselves or another small business for an award should attend this webinar for tips on submitting applications.

We look forward to lots of fantastic nominees for NSBW 2025!

This event will take place via Microsoft Teams. If you plan to attend via a mobile device, please download the Microsoft Teams app and create a free Microsoft account.

If you register before 3p CT on 9/9/24 and your email address is correct on the registration, you will also receive an Outlook invitation to the event.

If you have any questions about NSBW, please contact Gary Alexander at gary.alexander@sba.gov.