The National Small Business Week (NSBW) Awards are back! 

Nominations are being accepting for all awards, including the prestigious Small Business Person of the Year! Could you be our next big winner? Submit your nomination today.

Submission Deadline:

  • Monday, December 7, 2026 at 3:00pm ET. Late and incomplete packages will not be accepted.

Basic Eligibility Requirements:

  • Any U.S. citizen or U.S. national who has their principal residence in the United States, its territories or possessions, who owns 51% of a business and operates a small business for a minimum of three years prior to being nominated. Partners who jointly own and operate a small business may be nominated as a “team” so long as the number of individuals in the team nomination does not exceed four.
  • Must be in good standing on any federal obligations.
  • Individuals who have received at least one type of SBA assistance.

Specialty Award Categories:

In addition to Small Business Person of the Year, nominations are being accepted to recognize small businesses that are excelling in specific areas that contribute to American strength, innovation, and resilience, including the following categories.

  • Small Business Manufacturer of the Year
  • Exporter of the Year
  • Blue Collar Small Business of the Year
  • Rural Small Business of the Year
  • Veteran Small Business of the Year
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery
  • Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery – Mitigation

Small business owners may nominate themselves for an award, or they may be nominated by a third-party.

Visit SBA.gov/nsbw for the full list of awards, award-specific eligibility requirements, guidelines, nomination forms, local area contacts and all related information. 

National award recipients will be recognized during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., next May as part of National Small Business Week.

JOIN US FOR AN OPTIONAL VIRTUAL SESSION TO LEARN MORE:
Submitting a Winning Nomination for SBA National Small Business Week Awards

Learn about the SBA North Carolina’s nomination categories, eligibility, and tips for writing an award-winning nomination! 

No registration, please save the link below in your calendar!

Thursday, October 15 | 10:00am to 11:00am ET | JOIN HERE  (save link in your calendar)

Tuesday, November 10 | 11:00am-12:00pm ET | JOIN HERE (save link in your calendar)

Monday, November 30 | 1:00pm-2:00pm ET | JOIN HERE (save link in your calendar)

For additional questions, please contact
Aregnaz Mooradian aregnaz.mooradian@sba.gov