SBA opens nominations for 2025 National Small Business Week Awards

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), opened nominations for the 2025 National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards.

A press release stated, “For more than 60 years, the SBA has been uplifting small businesses in America, and the annual NSBW awards recognize the exemplary achievements, triumphs, contributions, and resilience of SBA-assisted individuals and businesses that help to drive the American economy.”

Guzman said, “From corner shops to innovation hubs, American entrepreneurs create jobs, invent and provide crucial products and services to their communities, and help define the neighborhoods they serve. The SBA is proud to celebrate National Small Business Week each year to lift up the best of that American entrepreneurial spirit and recognize the many essential contributions all of our small businesses make to our nation.”

“The Buffalo district serves a unique and diverse small business community across our 14-county market,” said Victoria Reynolds, district director. “This year, we will celebrate successful small businesses throughout May by showcasing nominees in each county and culminating in the districtwide awards ceremony.”

To nominate a small business owner or download related forms, criteria and guidelines, visit sba.gov/nsbw. All nominations must be submitted electronically by 4 p.m. Dec. 5. National awards will be presented during the NSBW awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 4-5, 2025, while local honors will be celebrated throughout the month of May.

The SBA’s signature award during NSBW is the Small Business Person of the Year (SBOTY). A business owner from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S Virgin Islands and Guam is selected for individual state SBPOTY winner awards. The state award winners will compete for the 2025 National Small Business Person of the Year title.

Nominations will also be accepted for the following award categories: 

Small Business Exporter of the Year – Buffalo District Office Awards

•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, 2025.

•Family-Owned Business of the Year: This award honors a family-owned and operated business that 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 for operating a small business with at least a 15-year track record.

•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 for small businesses may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.

•Minority Small Business Champion or Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities for minority business owners may be nominated, or a minority-owned small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be small business owners.

•Veteran Small Business Champion or Business 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 or a veteran small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be veterans.

•Women in Business Champion or Business of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership may be nominated, or a women-owned small business owner who has experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning their own business. Champion nominees may or may not be small business owners.

•Government Contracting Champion of the Year: An individual who has fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of small business opportunities in government contracting. Nominees may or may not be small business owners. 

For local area contact and other related information, contact Sara Vescio at [email protected] or call 716-604-0013.

National Small Business Week

Every year since 1963, the president of the U.S. has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America's entrepreneurs and small business owners have made in their communities and neighborhoods.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, creating about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners from all 50 states including U.S. territories. Every day, they’re working to grow small businesses, create good jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices, such as its Buffalo district office, and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov, or www.sba.gov/district/buffalo for local information.