Nominations Open for 2025 National Small Business Week Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Small Business Person of the Year from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Those winners will vie for the coveted National Small Business Person of the Year title. 

For more than 70 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW), which acknowledges the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. In 2025, National Small Business Week (NSBW) will take place May 4-10. 

As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members who are working to grow small businesses, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness.  

“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,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “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.”  

To be considered for the 2025 Small Business Person of the Year Award, business owners must nominate themselves or another small business by 4 p.m. on Dec. 5, 2024. Nomination forms, criteria and guidelines can be found online here.  

Additional NSBW awards are also open for nomination in these categories as well: 

• Small Business Exporter of the Year  
• Small Business Investment Company of the Year  
  • SBIC Emerging Manager  
  • SBIC Established Manager  
• Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery 
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery  
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery – Mitigation  
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Public Official  
  • Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery, Volunteer  
• Federal Procurement Awards 
  • Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year  
  • Small Business Subcontractor of the Year  
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower Awards for Excellence (for large prime contractors who use small businesses as suppliers and contractors)  
  • 8(a) Graduate of the Year  
• Awards to SBA Resource Partners 
  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Center Award  
  • S.C.O.R.E. Chapter of the Year  
  • Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award  
  • Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Year  
• Surety Bond Agent of the Year 

The national awards will be presented to winners during the NSBW awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 4 – 5, 2025.