The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Colorado office is now accepting nominations for its 2017 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year. Since 1963, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities, and to our nation’s economy.  This year, Reed Silberman, founder of Denver’s InkMonstr was named Colorado’s Small Business Person of the Year.  Reed started his business out of his car and grew it to 13 employees in West Denver.  He is a true Colorado success story.

The dedicated website www.sba.gov/nsbw/awards  provides forms, criteria and guidelines for submitting a nomination.

SBA Awards given in celebration of National Small Business Week, April 30 – May 6, 2017, include the following:

• Small Business Person of the Year – an experienced and innovative entrepreneur that has the drive and knowledge to make his/her business a smashing success.
  • One from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
• Exporter of the Year – a small business that has expanded its market by exporting its products or services worldwide.

All nominations must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. MST, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017.  SBA will no longer be using the Small Business Week online portal. All nomination packages may only be hand delivered or mailed to an SBA Office. Email submissions of SBA Awards forms will not be accepted as they contain personally identifiable information (PII).