SBA seeks nominations for business awards

From Small Business Administration

Nominations are now open for the SBA 2016 Small Business Awards.  

“Small businesses contribute to local economies by bringing innovation to their community, providing employment opportunities and attracting talent who invent new products or implement new solutions for existing ideas,” said Wayne Gardella, Montana SBA district director.  “We encourage our lenders, Chambers of Commerce, and local business leaders to nominate Montana based successful small business entrepreneurs,” he said.

These small business awards recognize businesses and business owners across the state for their successes and contributions to their communities.

Over the years, Dean Folkvord of Wheat Montana, Tiffany Lach of Sola Café, Joe Billion of J.C. Billion, KC Walsh of Simms Fishing Products, Sarah Calhoun of Red Ants Pants, and many more, have been acknowledged with these awards.    

This year the Montana SBA will recognize honorees in the following categories at an award event next spring:

• Small business person of the year

• Small business exporter of the year

• Woman-owned business of the year

• Veteran-owned business of the year

• Millennial entrepreneur – under 35

Winners in the small business person and small business exporter categories will represent Montana and go onto regional and national competition. Nominations in these two categories can also be submitted online at http://awards.sba.gov.

For 2016, the nomination criteria have been streamlined and simplified. In years past there were multiple forms, letters and documents required; now the nominees are only required to submit one form and questionnaire.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, Jan. 11. Nomination guidelines and forms are available on Montana SBA’s website, http://www.sba.gov/mt, or via email to [email protected].