Nominations Open for 2026 National Small Business Week Awards

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has officially opened nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards, celebrating the vital role of small businesses in the economy. This year’s awards will be held during National Small Business Week from May 3 to 9, 2026, with a formal ceremony scheduled in Washington, D.C., on May 4 and 5.

Nominations must be submitted electronically by 7 a.m. on December 8, 2025. The SBA emphasizes the significance of small businesses, which represent 99% of all businesses in the United States and create approximately two out of every three new jobs, employing nearly half of the nation’s workforce. “From farms to factories, hardworking small businesses are the engine of our economy,” stated Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Thanks to our free enterprise system, small businesses power generational opportunity and economic growth.”

Award Categories and Selection Process

The awards recognize businesses across several categories including small business exporting, disaster recovery, and federal procurement. Each state, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, will select a business owner for the State Small Business Person of the Year award. State winners will then compete for the prestigious title of National Small Business Person of the Year.

At both the national and district levels, two key awards are presented: Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Exporter. Additional district-level awards include categories such as Entrepreneurial Success, Family-Owned Business of the Year, and specific awards for minority, veteran, woman-owned, and young entrepreneurs.

The Eastern Pennsylvania District Office conducts its own awards, recognizing outstanding nominees from the region’s 40 counties. Last year, awards were given to businesses in Chester, Cumberland, Montgomery, Montour, and Philadelphia counties. For instance, Unleashed Counseling in Montgomery County was honored as the 2025 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, while AEONRG from Chester County received the Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year award.

How to Submit Nominations

To nominate a small business for either national or district awards, individuals can visit the SBA’s dedicated website at sba.gov/nsbw. Each nomination must meet specific criteria, including a three-year business track record and evidence of receiving at least one type of SBA assistance, such as loans or counseling services.

The nomination package must be completed and submitted electronically by the December deadline. For district awards, the Eastern Pennsylvania District Office accepts nominations via a designated online platform.

Judges will evaluate nominations based on various criteria, including the business’s longevity, employee growth, sales increases, response to adversity, and contributions to community projects. This comprehensive assessment process ensures that deserving businesses are recognized for their achievements and impact in the community.

As nominations open, the SBA encourages communities to recognize and celebrate the achievements of local entrepreneurs, who are pivotal to the nation’s economic landscape.