Nominations Open for 2026 National Small Business Week Awards

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the opening of nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards. These prestigious awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses across the nation and will be presented during National Small Business Week from May 3 to May 9, 2026. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., on May 4 and 5, with district-level awards being presented throughout the month of May.

Small businesses are vital to the U.S. economy, comprising 99% of all businesses and creating two out of every three new jobs, according to the SBA. Administrator Kelly Loeffler emphasized their importance, stating, “From farms to factories, hardworking small businesses are the engine of our economy, the heartbeat of local communities, and the foundation of our nation’s strength.” The SBA aims to highlight these contributions through the awards.

Award Categories and Nominations

The 2026 awards will cover several categories, including small business exporting, disaster recovery, and federal procurement awards. Each of the 50 states, 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 National Small Business Person of the Year title, the SBA’s most distinguished award.

Two awards will be presented at both the national and district levels: 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, Minority-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, Woman-Owned Small Business Person of the Year, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

The SBA’s Eastern Pennsylvania District Office will select its winners from nominees across the region. Last year, awards recognized businesses from Chester, Cumberland, Montgomery, Montour, and Philadelphia counties. For instance, Unleashed Counseling in Lower Pottsgrove, Montgomery County, was honored as the Eastern Pennsylvania Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, while AEONRG was awarded the Eastern Pennsylvania Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Nomination Guidelines and Criteria

To submit a nomination for the 2026 awards, individuals can visit the SBA’s dedicated website at sba.gov/nsbw. All nominations must be submitted electronically by 7 a.m. on December 8, 2025. Each nominee must meet specific criteria, including having a three-year track record and having received at least one form of SBA assistance, such as an SBA loan, SCORE counseling, or government contracting assistance.

Nominations for district awards must also be submitted electronically by the same deadline. The Eastern Pennsylvania District Office has established a submission portal for this purpose. The evaluation process will focus on several criteria, including the business’s staying power, employee growth, increases in sales and net profit over the past three years, response to adversity, and contributions to community projects.

Last year, notable winners from the Eastern Pennsylvania District included Super Natural Produce and Sarai Variety Flower Shop, both of which exemplified excellence in their categories. Such success stories underscore the significant role small businesses play in local economies and the larger national landscape.

The 2026 National Small Business Week Awards present an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resilience and achievements of small businesses across the United States. Nominations are now open, and the SBA encourages community members to highlight outstanding small businesses in their areas.