EL PASO – National Small Business Week is being held from April 29 through May 5 and is an annual event hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration to recognize the nation’s top small businesses, entrepreneurs, small business advocates and champions. Every day they’re working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.

The U.S. Small Business Administration El Paso District Director, Phillip C. Silva announced the 2018 El Paso Small Business Week awardees for fourteen different categories ranging from home-based, contracting, lending, young entrepreneur, women, minority and veteran small business champions which includes the Texas Small Business Person of the Year, Von C. Washington, Sr., President and CEO for Integrated Defense Applications LLC dba IDA Technology.

Mr. Washington knew that he would one day open his own business and after 25 years of experience in the aerospace and missile defense industry, he realized his dream and founded IDA Technology in 2007. Its services include a complete range of test and evaluation in complex testing environments for both weapons systems and network architectures, management services in support of project goals, logistics, a wide range of information technology products and services, administrative and facilities services management.

“We are proud of the 2018 Small Business Award Recipients for El Paso and the accomplishments of the small business owners and advocates. We are especially proud to have Von C. Washington, Sr., President of IDA Technology for being recognized as the Texas 2018 Small Business Person of the Year. The accomplishments of the award recipients will be celebrated on Thursday, May 3 at a luncheon celebration hosted by the Wyndham Airport Hotel,” said Phillip C. Silva.

Tickets and tables for the event may be purchased through the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce at (915) 629-6714.

2018 El Paso District Small Business Awards

• Small Business Person of the Year

Von C. Washington, Sr., Integrated Defense Applications LLC dba IDA Technology

• Women’s Business Center of Excellence

Women’s Business Border Center

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Adrian R.K. Padilla, Off the Grill Food Truck

• Home-Based Champion of the Year

Susan Tracey Benson and Michael Eric Benson, MT Needles Embroidery

• Financial Services Champion of the Year

Esther Lopez, PeopleFund

• Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Bruce D. Collins, Purchasing Director: Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing Department for the City of El Paso

• Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Daniel Portillo, Procurement Specialist: Contract Opportunities Center (COC), a Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

• 8(a) Graduate of the Year

Fernando Jaime Rodriguez, Night Eyes Protective Services, Inc.

• Women in Business Champion of the Year

Virginia Elaine Price, Genesis 21

• Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year

John Leon Baily, Chief Executive Officer: Tigua, Inc.

• Small Business Subcontractor of the Year

David Granado, DA Defense Logistics HQ, LLC

• Top 7(a) Lender

Wells Fargo Bank, NA

• Impact Lender

BBVA Compass Bank

• Top 504 Lender

Enchantment Land CDC

Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week is set as the first week in May, and this year the dates are April 29 – May 5 with national events planned throughout SBA’s 10 Regions and 68 Districts.

For more information about National Small Business Week visit: www.sba.gov/nsbw

The El Paso District Office of the SBA is responsible for providing businesses with tools for enhancing and growing their businesses. It also oversees the delivery of SBA's programs throughout the state such as:

• Free counseling, advice and information on starting a business through SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers, and the Women’s Business Center (link is external). These organizations also conduct training events throughout the district.
• Financial assistance for new or existing businesses through guaranteed loans made by area bank and non-bank lenders.
• Business development assistance via the 8(a) program, available to businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
• Veteran’s assistance through the Boots to Business program and dedicated lending programs for Veterans.

For more information on any of these programs, contact the El Paso District office at (915)834-4600.