Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today encouraged West Virginians to nominate West Virginia small businesses and entrepreneurs for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2017 National and District Small Business Week awards. Winner of national titles will attend National Small Business Week activities in Washington, D.C. in May 2017. All nominations are due by Tuesday, January 10^th.

“With over 120,000 small businesses making up 96 percent of our employers, it is the hard-working entrepreneurial spirit that defines West Virginia,” Senator Manchin said. “I encourage all West Virginians to nominate local businesses for these prestigious awards so that they get the support and recognition that they deserve. By encouraging small business growth, we are helping to build a stronger, more diversified Mountain State economy.”

The SBA is seeking national nominations for the following awards: Small Business Person of the Year Award; Small Business Exporter of the Year; Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery; Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery - Public Official; Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery – Volunteer; Federal Procurement Award - Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year Award; Federal Procurement Award - Small Business Subcontractor of the Year Award; Federal Procurement Award - Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence; 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award; Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award; Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award; Women's Business Center of the Year Excellence Award Jody C. Raskind Lender of the Year; Small Business Investment Company of the Year

In addition to national awards, The West Virginia District office is seeking nominations for the following district awards: WV Young Entrepreneur of the Year; WV Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year; WV Encore Entrepreneur of the Year; WV Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year; WV Family-Owned Small Business of the Year; WV Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year; WV Small Business Champion of the Year.

To nominate a small business or entrepreneur for a national or district award, please mail or hand deliver to the SBA’s West Virginia District Office at 320 West Pike Street, Suite 330, Clarksburg, WV 26301.

District nominations must be submitted directly to the West Virginia District Office. Guidelines and nomination forms can be found on the SBA’s West Virginia District Office web page at http://1.usa.gov/1SfCqJ0 or by contacting Nikki Bowmar at (304) 623-7445 or nikki.bowmar@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).

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