To be nominated and receive one of the following local awards, the small business nominee must fit within the category of the award, demonstrate success in business and complete and submit the required nomination package information. Incomplete packages will not be accepted.
After you read through the categories below, you can read the general guidelines and submit your nomination.
Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Family-owned business that has passed from one generation to another and owner has responsibility for operating the business. Nominees must serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating the small business with at least a 15-year track record. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022) and show voluntary efforts to strengthen family-owned businesses in the community. Business must have received SBA assistance. Jeffrey Butland was a staunch advocate for family-owned small businesses in New England as the Region 1 Administrator.
Manufacturer of the Year
Any small business manufacturer may be nominated. Staying power – a substantiated history as an established business; including but not limited to expansion, exporting, addition of territories, or growth in square footage occupied. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022).
Microenterprise of the Year
Any individual(s) who founded, owns, and operates a business with 5 or fewer employees (including the owners), which received assistance through SBA loan programs or as a client of our SBA technical service providers. Partners who jointly own and operate the business may be nominated as a “team”, so long as the number of individuals in the team does not exceed four. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022).
Minority Small Business of the Year
An ethnic minority who serves as majority owner for a small business with a 3-year track record and a commitment to strengthen minority-owned businesses in the community may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022). Business must have received SBA assistance.
Veteran Small Business of the Year
A U.S. Armed Forces Veteran who serves as majority owner for a small business with a 3-year track record and demonstrates voluntary efforts to strengthen veteran-owned businesses in the community may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022). Business must have received SBA assistance.
Women in Business of the Year
A woman who serves as majority owner for a small business with a 3-year track record and a commitment to strengthen woman-owned businesses in the community may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022). Business must have received SBA assistance.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Individual or partners who own a small business, are under 30 or under on June 1st 2024, and have been in business for three years and who owns at least 51% and operates a small business may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022).
SBA will make the above referenced awards to eligible small businesses at the Connecticut District level only. Awards for Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year will be forwarded for National competition.