The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking nominations for the 2012 SBA Georgia Small Business Person of the Year and 2012 Small Business Champion awards. Criteria for each award and submission guidelines are listed at the bottom of this page. Packages due Thursday, November 10, 2011.
Each year since 1963, the President of the United States has designated a National Small Business Week. The highlight of Small Business Week activities is the presentation of awards at the state and national levels. The 2012 Small Business Week celebration next year will honor the small business community's many contributions to the American economy and society. National Small Business Week will be observed May 20 – 26, 2012.
In Georgia, the SBA District Office selects the 2012 Georgia Small Business Person of the Year. That individual will attend the national celebration in Washington, DC to compete for the National Small Business Person of the Year award. At this celebration, a national winner is selected from all the winners from across the country.
Small Business Champions of the Year award categories are for those who promote small business, including volunteering time and services to small business interests and groups. Champions may or may not be small business owners. Some of the award categories include:
Additional forms required for each person nominated are the SBA Form 3300 and SBA Form 2137.
"Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-working, dedicated, and visionary patriots to make it a reality. Successful businesses start much the same way -- as ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a better world and work until they see it through. From the family businesses that anchor Main Street to the high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstones of America's promise... Small businesses embody the promise of America: that if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard enough, you can succeed in our country. This week, we honor and celebrate the individuals whose inspiration and efforts keep America strong."
