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.
West Virginia Family-Owned Small Business of the Year*
Individual(s) that own a family small business that has been passed down from one generation to the next and has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning the business.
West Virginia Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year*
An individual that is a veteran small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business.
West Virginia Women-Owned Small Business of the Year*
An individual that is a women-owned small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business.
*Nominees must own and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating the small business for a minimum of three years prior to being nominated. Nominees must have received at least one type of SBA assistance such as, but not limited to an SBA loan, Small Business Development Center (SBDC) assistance, Women’s Business Center (WBC) assistance, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center (VBOC) assistance, SCORE counseling, government contracting assistance, physical disaster assistance, Emerging Leaders participation, SBIR/STTR, STEP grant, or Boots to Business/Reboot training.
SBA will make the above referenced awards to eligible small businesses at the West Virginia District level only. Awards for Small Business Person of the Year and Exporter of the Year will be forwarded for National competition.