Community News
2026 National Small Business Week Awards Nominations are Open
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards —including the prestigious Small Business Person of the Year! NSBW 2026 will take place May 3-9. On this week the SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states and U.S. territories. They are the innovators, risk-takers, and job creators who pour their heart and soul into starting, growing, and expanding their businesses.
ABOUT THE AWARDS The SBA opened the nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards. All nominations must be submitted by December 8, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. CT. National awards will be presented during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. next May during NSBW. SBA Minnesota District Office will celebrate our local district winner and additional local awardees throughout the month of May. To nominate a small business owner in your area or download related forms, criteria, and guidelines, visit sba.gov/nsbw.
NATIONAL AWARD NOMINATIONS CATEGORIES: • Small Business Person of the Year • Small Business Exporter of the Year • Phoenix Awards for Disaster Recovery • 8(a) Graduate of the Year
• SCORE National Chapter of the Year (COTY) • Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award • Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award • Women's Business Center of the Year Award MINNESOTA DISTRICT OFFICE AWARD CATEGORIES: • Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year • Veteran Small Business Champion • Woman Owned Small Business of the Year • Women in Business Champion • Encore Entrepreneur • Family-Owned Small Business • Young Entrepreneur
OCTOBER 2025 — ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE | 35
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