| Release Date: October 9, 2014 | Contact: Ahmad Goree (817) 684-5539 |
| Release Number: -15-01 DFW | Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news
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Honor an outstanding small business in your area
Dallas/Fort Worth TX– The U.S. Small Business Administration Dallas/Fort Worth District Office is seeking amazing entrepreneurs and champions of small business to honor during the 2015 National Small Business Week Awards event in May. Nominations are being accepted through Jan. 5, 2015 at 3 pm eastern time.
“More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and many of them have amazing stories to tell. They help fuel our economy, drive innovation and increase America’s footprint in the global arena.” said Yolanda Garcia Olivarez, SBA South Central Region Administrator. The region covers Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas with more than 3.3 million small businesses. “Now is the time to help us single out the top entrepreneurs in your area. These are the ones who think big, take risks and work hard to achieve the American dream, strengthen the middle class and create good paying jobs. We want to spotlight their success.”
The Texas Small Business Person of the Year will be selected based on number of years in business, growth in employees, increase in sales, innovativeness of product or service, response to adversity and contributions to the community. The Texas award winner will go on to compete for 2015 National Small Business Person of the Year award.
“Every year, the SBA Dallas/Fort Worth District Office eagerly awaits the nominations that are received from business owners, chambers, associations, and various members of the community as well as our SBA partners. There are so many entrepreneurs that are true champions in their industry and should be recognized. It is my hope that we would have an influx of candidates this year and that the National Small Business Person of the Year comes from within the 72 counties that the Dallas/Fort Worth Office serves. We look forward to hearing more of the success stories in the small business community and the impact they have had on their customer base, their community and industry they serve” said Herbert Austin, SBA Dallas/Fort Worth District Director.
Any individual or organization dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States may submit nominations for the following awards:
- National Small Business Person of the Year
- National Small Business Exporter of the Year
- National 8(a) Graduate of the Year
- National Phoenix (Disaster Recovery) Awards
- SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Family-Owned Business of the Year
- Entrepreneurial Success Award
- Financial Services Champion of the Year
- Home-Based Business Champion of the Year
- Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
- Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year
- Women in Business Champion of the Year
Nominees for these awards should fit the following categories:
Small Business Person of the Year : Any individual who owns and operates or who bears principal responsibility for operating a small business may be nominated. Partners who jointly own and operate a small business may be nominated as a “team.” The number of individuals in the team cannot exceed four.
National Small Business Exporter of the Year: An individual who owns and operates a small business engaged in exporting.
National 8(a) Graduate of the Year: This award recognizes a formerly certified 8(a) Business Development Program participant that graduated from the program for at least one year as of April 1, 2014. The firm does not have to currently be a small business.
National Phoenix (Disaster Recovery) Awards: These awards are given to those individuals (business owners, volunteers and public officials) whose efforts and contributions have enabled their business or communities to recover successfully from a disaster.
SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year: To be considered a young entrepreneur, the individual must serve as a majority owner and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with a three year track record, and who will not have reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2014.
Family-Owned Business of the Year: This award honors a family-owned and operated business which has been passed on from one generation to the next. The owner must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility with at least a 15-year track record.
Entrepreneurial Success Award: Individuals must own and operate businesses initially launched as small according to SBA size standards and subsequently developed into large businesses; and they must have received SBA assistance to help the businesses grow.
The following Champion award nominees may or not be small business owners:
Financial Services Champion of the Year: An individual who assists small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services.
Home-Based Business Champion of the Year: An individual who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a home-based business and has volunteered to improve the climate for these businesses may be nominated.
Minority Small Business Champion of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for minority business owners.
Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. armed forces may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be veterans.
Women in Business Champion of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership may be nominated.
All nominations must be submitted online, postmarked or hand delivered to the SBA no later than 3 p.m. EST, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Nominations may be made via the portal at http//awards.sba.gov or sent directly to SBA’s Dallas/Fort Worth District Office at 4300 Amon Carter Blvd, Suite 114, Fort Worth, TX 76155 , (817) 684-5500) or visit online at http://www.sba.gov/offices/district/tx/dallas-fort-worth
For more information, contact Ahmad Goree at (817) 684-5539 or email :ahmad.goree@sba.gov.
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Elsie Collins
Deputy District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
Dallas/Fort Worth District Office
4300 Amon Carter Blvd Suite 114
Fort Worth, TX 76155
(817) 684-5530 Direct Line
(817) 684-5500 Main
(202) 481-4315 Fax
