2013 North Florida District Office
Small Business Week Awards
Nominations Guidelines
Wilfredo J. Gonzalez
District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
North Florida District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 100B
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 443-1900
Championing North Florida’s Entrepreneurs
“For centuries, America’s progress has been driven by pioneers who think big, take risks, and work hard. Where their ideas take root, we find inventions that can change the way we live. And when their businesses take off, they fuel an engine of economic growth and job creation that moves America forward. During National Small Business Week, we celebrate the generations of entrepreneurs who have given their all to realize a dream, and we renew our promise to help their businesses grow, hire, and succeed.”
Barack Obama
President of the United States
(2012 Small Business Week Proclamation)
Dear Supporters of America’s Small Business Community:
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. As you might know, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.
Thank you for helping find and nominate candidates for the most prestigious annual small business awards in America.
Warm regards,
Karen G. Mills
Administrator
All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Introduction
In recognition of the small business community’s contribution to the American economy and society, the President of the United States designates one week each year as National Small Business Week. The national celebration will take place in the spring of 2013 in Washington, DC. Leading up to National Small Business Week 2013, the U.S. Small Business Administration, often in conjunction with public- and private-sector small business supporters, will host special events at the local and state levels to honor and present awards to local entrepreneurs and those who support and advocate for small businesses.
2013 North Florida District Small Business Week Awards
In celebration of National Small Business Week, the SBA North Florida District Office will give the following awards:
Small Business Person of the Year
Small Business Exporter of the Year
Veteran Business Owner of the Year
Minority Business Owner of the Year
Woman Business Owner of the Year
Small Business Advocate of the Year
The Agency reserves the right, in its sole reasonable discretion, to remove a nominee from the selection process.
Key Deadlines
January 11, 2013-Small Busines Week Award nominations must be received in the North Florida District Office.
February 1, 2013- District level award winners will be selected
February 15, 2013-A panel of judges will select state winners in multi-district states.
April 1, 2013-Florida Small Business Person of the Year Award will be announced.
What are the selection procedures for these awards?
The SBA North Florida District Office will select the winners of the Small Business Week Awards at the district level. Those winners will then compete at the State level against winners from the SBA South Florida District Office to determine the Florida winners. Winners at each level will be selected by a panel of judges. Winners at each level will be considered for awards at the next highest level.
The National Small Business Person of the Year is selected from the State level winners from across the nation by the SBA Administrator based on the recommendations of the Agency’s National Small Business Week panel of judges. The winner will be announced during National Small Business Week. Non-federal employees serving as judges must sign a conflict of interest/non-disclosure certification.
Who is eligible to be nominated for these awards?
Any individual 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. All nominees for the Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, Veteran Business Owner of the Year, Minority Business Owner of the Year, and Woman Business Owner of the Year must own or operate a business defined as “small” under the applicable SBA size standards. Individuals who have received the SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year Award at the State level within the past five years are not eligible. Nominees must also be residents of the United States or its territories and will be subject to background checks. Small businesses owned and operated by nominees must comply with federal civil rights laws. While receipt of SBA assistance is not required, it is preferred.
The North Florida District Office will accept nominations for individuals that own, operate, or advocate for businesses in the following 43 counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
Contact Nayana Sen at (904) 443-1933 or through email with any questions.
Who may submit nominations for these awards?
Any individual or organization dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, including, but not limited to, trade and professional associations and business organizations, may submit nominations for the Small Business Week Awards. Self-nominations are also accepted. Individuals may not be nominated for more than one SBW 2013 award category.
Where are the nominations to be sent?
Completed paper nomination packages (original and two copies) may be sent to the SBA North Florida District Office located at:
Nayana Sen
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. SBA
North Florida District Office
7825 Baymeadows Way, Suite 100B
Jacksonville, FL 32256
*The North Florida District Office does not accept e-mail nominations.
**Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
What is the deadline for nominations?
All nominations for all North Florida District Office awards must be emailed, postmarked, or hand delivered to the District Office no later than January 11, 2013.
What information must each nomination package contain?
These are the requirements for all award categories, except the Advocate Awards which do NOT require the submission of financial statements. Nominations must be typewritten on one side of 8 1/2” x 11” white stationery, collated and secured. Incomplete nomination packages will not be considered. All evaluation/selection criteria must be specifically addressed. A complete nomination package will also include, in the following order:
1. A single cover page stating —
- the nominee’s full name, title, business and home addresses with telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address if applicable;
- the award for which the nomination is being made;
- the nominator’s name, title, place of business, business address and telephone number and e-mail address if applicable;
- the type of SBA assistance received (e.g., loan, SCORE counseling, SBDC assistance, etc.), if applicable; and
- a one-paragraph description of the nominee’s business.
2. An original 8” x 10” or 5” x 7” photo of the nominee; or a digital photo – at least 300 dpi; photocopies are not acceptable;
3. Four to five additional photos of the nominee’s company and employees at work;
4. A nomination letter, to include a concise statement of the qualities and performance that merit the award, not to exceed four pages;
5. A brief biography of the nominee, not to exceed one page;
6. A business profile, not to exceed one page;
7. The nominee’s financial statements — including balance sheets, profit-and-loss statements and financial reports — not exceeding 12 pages, on 8 1/2’’ x 11’’ paper - for the last three years. Advocate Awards nominations are exempt from this requirement.
8. Any other supporting documentation deemed significant by the nominator, including news clips, letters of recommendation, and other evidence of the appropriateness of the nomination. Supporting documentation must not exceed 10 pages. Videos will not be considered.
9. A completed SBA Form 2137 Award Nomination Consent Form. For “team” nominations for Small Business Owner of the Year, a background form is required for each team member.
10. A completed SBA Form 3300, Award Nomination Form. For “team” nominations for Small Business Owner of the Year, a background form is required for each team member.