Providence, R.I. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Rhode Island Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award.  The winner will be honored during the annual Rhode Island Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week celebration in October.  Nomination criteria and forms may be obtained by calling the SBA Rhode Island District Office at (401) 528-4561, or online at www.sba.gov/ri and selecting the 2011 Rhode Island Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award Nomination Information link. The completed nomination packages must be received by the SBA Rhode Island District Office no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011. 

     Nominees must own and operate a minority-owned small business, the business must be in satisfactory financial condition, and must have been in business for at least three years.  If the firm has an SBA-backed loan, the payment record must be satisfactory and the loan must be current.  If the nominee’s firm is a government contractor, it must have performed satisfactorily on all contracts, and have had no terminations for default.

     For more information about the Rhode Island Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award, contact the SBA at (401) 528-4561.