Business Awards Program

Evaluation Factors

Business Advocate of the Year
Individuals who assist small businesses either directly or through advocacy efforts, to improve the small business environment or increase availability of resources for small businesses may be nominated. Nominations will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The amount and quality of assistance given
• Active support of legislative or regulatory reforms
• Advocacy efforts
• Other significant contributions to the small businesses
• Encouragement of the flow of resources to small community businesses

Government Contractor of the Year
Federal government prime contractors and subcontractors that fall within the SBA’s size standards of a small business may be nominated. Partners may be nominated as a team, as long as the number of individuals nominated does not exceed three. Nominations will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Management ability/experience/systems
• Contract performance and on-time delivery
• Evidence of good customer relations (letters, special recognition, i.e. quality vendor, qualified supplier, etc.)
• Quality control mechanisms
• Evidence of contribution to the community or others
• Growth in profitability
• Continued growth: measured either by an increase in
  number of employees, sales, or unit volume

Entrepreneur of the Year
Individuals or no more than three partners who serve as majority owner(s)/and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a full-time small business with at least a two-year track record. Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Evidence of success as measured by sales and/or
• Development or utilization of innovative or creative profit growth business methods
• Increased employment opportunities created
• Potential for long-term business success
• Evidence of contribution to the community or others

Small Business Person of the Year
These are individuals who own and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business as defined by the SBA’s size standards. Partners may be nominated as a team, as long as the number of individuals nominated does not exceed three. Nominations will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Management ability/experience/systems
• Growth in profitability
• Business history
• Innovativeness of product or service
• Continued growth: measured either by an increase in number of employees, sales or unit volumes
• Evidence of contribution to the community or others

Training Excellence Award
Businesses may be nominated that have a formal process of training for maintaining and upgrading their employee skills. Businesses that are nominated must be profitable and in operation for more than two years. Nominations will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• The value added from the training process to their business
• Evidence of success measured by the business
• Return on investment
• Training in response to new or changing technologies or processes
• New initiatives
• Other significant contributions to the business
• Training outcomes
• Evidence of contribution to the community or others