Hawaii – The Hawai’i Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened nominations for the prestigious SBA Small Business Awards for 2016. The annual SBA Small Business Awards continue to be the most competitive, comprehensive and visible awards presented to small businesses in the state.
With a record of recognizing excellence in small business for more than three decades, past SBA winners have included outstanding small companies such as Island Naturals Market, PacRim Marketing, Green Point Nurseries, Hoaloha Na Eha dba Old Lahaina Luau, Big Island Candies, Maui Brewing, and many others.
“The SBA Small Business Awards for 2016 sharpen our focus on the key characteristics of entrepreneurial success and relevant stories about sustaining that success,” said Jane Sawyer, SBA District Director. “SBA’s program continues to generate interest and excitement in Hawaii with stories of innovation, creativity and teamwork and the positive, proactive measures that small business owners are taking to grow businesses, creating jobs and better communities.”
For 2016 SBA Small Business Award categories for the Hawaii District include:
- SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year honors the individual or ownership team who demonstrates outstanding skills, savvy and the ability to create success in the small business community. Nominees will be evaluated based on increases in revenue year over year, staying power, job creation, innovativeness of product or service and response to adversity.
- Entrepreneurial Success Award is unique in recognizing the achievements of an accomplished small business person who started out as a small business and has since, with some assistance from the SBA, grown to exceed the small business size standards, or NAICs.
- Family-Owned Small Business of the Year honors the legacy of family owned and operated small businesses with a track record for more than 15 years and successfully passed some portion of ownership from one generation on to the next.
- Small Business Exporter of the Year highlights a small business owner who is a leader in this fast growing market segment by exporting products or services outside the U.S. and supporting other export initiatives.
- SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year to recognize the achievement of a younger small business owner who has embraced business ownership and demonstrates staying power and growth over a consecutive three year term prior to reaching the age of 35 years.
- SBA Small Business Advocate of the Year to honor individuals who have provided exceptional assistance or services to small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the awareness of the contributions of small businesses to economic vitality and create a better business environment. These awards recognize champions in a variety of areas include financial services, women in business, veteran owned small business support, home based business, and minority small businesses.
Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for an SBA Small Business Award. Self-nominations are also accepted. Standard forms used by the Hawaii SBA office assure that candidates fulfill the criteria, are evaluated fairly and objectively, and identify the strongest candidates to represent the top small businesses in Hawaii. Previous SBA Award winners may be nominated if five years have lapsed since their award and the company continues to meet the eligibility requirements.
The required nomination forms with detailed information on the nominees are available on the website of the Hawaii SBDC Network at www.hisbdc.org or by contacting the Hawaii District Office. Completed forms should be submitted to the SBA District Office at 500 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 1-306, no later than December 4, 2015.
For more information, call SBA at 808-541-2990.