SBA calls for nominations: Categories include ‘Small Business Person of the Year’

The U.S. Small Business Administration Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office is accepting nominations for Small Business Person of the Year and other award categories for the 2025 national and district Small Business Week Awards. (Courtesy: U.S. Small Business Administration/Facebook)

The U.S. Small Business Administration Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office is accepting nominations for Small Business Person of the Year and other award categories for the 2025 national and district Small Business Week Awards.

The national and district award categories are for Small Business Exporter and SBA 8(a) Business Development Program Graduate of the Year in addition to Small Business Person of the Year.

District-only awards categories are Family-Owned Business of the Year, Home-Based Business of the Year, Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year, Rural-Owned Small Business of the Year, Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year, Women-Owned Small Business of the Year, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

National Small Business Week recognizes the achievements of small businesses around the country and the contributions they make to their local communities and the nation’s economy.

“Small Business Week is one of my favorite weeks as we elevate the importance of small business ownership, commemorate model entrepreneurs and celebrate small business resilience,” said SBA Lower RGV District Director Angela Burton.

The Lower Valley District Office serves Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties in addition to the counties of Aransas, Brooks, Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio, Starr and Zapata.

To learn about nomination criteria, download forms, and see guidelines for submitting district and/or national nominations, go to sba.gov.

In order to help nominators prepare a successful package, the Lower RGV District Office will host two webinars explaining the nomination guidelines, Burton said. The webinars are scheduled for Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. and Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. For more information on them, visit sba.gov/events?district=34. Nominations can only be submitted electronically and must be received by the Lower RGV District Office no later than 3 p.m. on Dec. 5.

“I encourage interested stakeholders to nominate exceptional small businesses and inspired small businesses to self-nominate,” Burton said.

SBA describes itself as “the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government.” The agency says its mission is to “empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster.”

SBA delivers services through a network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. For more information go to sba.gov or contact Veronica Ortega at veronica.ortega@sba.gov.

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