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.
Minority Small Business of the Year
Any individual who qualifies as a minority 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); Innovativeness of product or service offered; Contributions to community-oriented projects; Response to adversity; and Volunteer efforts to advance minority business interests within the community. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Veteran Small Business of the Year
Any individual who owns at least 51% and operates a small business and is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022); Innovativeness of product or service offered; contributions to community-oriented projects; response to adversity; volunteer efforts to advance veteran business interests within the community; and increased employment opportunities for veterans. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Woman Small Business of the Year
Any woman 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); Innovativeness of product or service offered; Contributions to community-oriented projects; Response to adversity; and volunteer efforts to advance woman business interests within the community. Business must have received SBA assistance.
LGBTQ+ Small Business of the Year
Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022); Innovativeness of product or service offered; contributions to community-oriented projects; response to adversity; volunteer efforts to strengthen other LGBTQ+ owned businesses within the community; and increased employment opportunities. Business must have received SBA assistance. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Any young entrepreneur who is a legal resident of the United States or its territories and a majority owner (51% or more) and operator or bears principal responsibility for operating a small business with a minimum three (3) year track record, and who has not reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2023. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Entrepreneurial Success of the Year
Any individual who serves as a majority owner and operates a business that started “small” by SBA standards, then developed into a large business may be nominated. Up to four partners who jointly own and operate a business may be nominated as a team. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Rural Small Business of the Year
The nominee must be a legal resident of the United States or its territories who is a majority owner (51% or more) and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business in Georgia with a minimum three (3) year track record. The business must be in a rural community, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a city, town, or a community in a non-urban area with a population under 50,000 people. Business must have received SBA assistance.
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 and show voluntary efforts to strengthen family-owned businesses in the community. Business must have received SBA assistance.
Small Business Manufacturer
Any small business manufacturer may be nominated. Nominee must demonstrate: Staying power; Growth in number of employees and increase in sales over 3 years (2020, 2021, 2022); Innovativeness of product or service offered; contributions to community-oriented projects; response to adversity; and Demonstrated creativity and/or commitment to a social mission in hiring policy, buying local, etc. Business must have received SBA assistance. *Products must be made or manufactured within the U.S.*
SBA will make the above referenced awards to eligible small businesses at the Georgia District level only. Awards for Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year will be forwarded for National competition.