With an estimated 27.2 million small businesses in the United States, small businesses are responsible for creating 60-80% of all new jobs each year. On May 20, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation ushering in the 47th observance of National Small Business Week in the United States.
In 2010, women business owners were recognized in 24 states as Small Business Persons of the Year.
What is National Small Business Week?
To honor the contributions of small business owners, every year since 1963, each U.S. president has signed proclaimation to continue Small Business Week.
Who started National Small Business Week?
The first president to sign a proclamation for National Small Business Week was John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Awards Given to Honor Small Business Persons
Events leading into National Small Business Week include multiple business awards: Lender of the Year and Export Lender of the Year; Entreprenurial Development Awards; Phoenix Awards; Federal Procurement Awards; National Small Business Champion Awards; and State Small Business Persons of the Year Awards.
National Small Business Champion Awards are divided into the following categories:
- Entrepreneurial Success Winner
- Financial Services Champion of the Year
- Home-Based Business Champion of the Year
- Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
- Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year
- Women in Business Champion of the Year
- SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year
- Exporter of the Year
- Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year
Federal Procurement Awards are divided into the following categories:
- Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year
- Small Business Subcontractor of the Year
- Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence
- Gold Star
- Frances Perkins Vanguard
- Surety Bond Lender of the Year
To find out more about National Small Business Week, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Business Week Website.
