Chris and Cortney Keene accept their Vermont Small Business Persons of the Year Award last June. VermontBiz photo.

Vermont Business Magazine VermontBiz.com The SBA Vermont District Office is accepting nominations for its 2023 small business awards. Previous Vermont winners include Ben and Jerry’s, Mamava, Blake Hill Preserves and Keene Perspectives.

The annual awards recognize the achievements of SBA-assisted small businesses and the contributions they have made to their communities and Vermont’s economy.

To be nominated and receive one of the following local awards, the small business nominee must fit within the category of the award, demonstrate success in business and complete and submit the required nomination package information. 

The categories are as follows: 

Small Business Person of the Year 
Criteria: Individual or partners who own a small business, which has increased sales, profits and employees, and have been in business for three years. Business must have received Small Business Administration assistance. 

Exporting Small Business of the Year 
Criteria: Small business which has increased sales, profits and/or employees due to exporting and been in business for three years. 

Family-Owned Small Business of the Year  
Criteria: Small business must be family-owned for at least 15 years and ownership has transitioned to another generation. 

Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year  
Criteria: Small business at least 51% owned by a veteran of U.S. armed forces, which has been in business for three years. 

Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year  
Criteria: Small business at least 51% owned by a woman, which has been in business for three years.

Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year 
Criteria: Small business at least 51% owned by an ethnic minority, which has been in business for three years.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year  
Criteria: Individual or partners who own a small business, are under 30, and have been in business for three years. 

Microenterprise of the Year 
Criteria: Individual or partners who own a microenterprise with five or less employees, received SBA assistance and have been in business for three years. 

Manufacturer of the Year 
Criteria: Individual or partners who own a manufacturing business, which has been in business for three years. 

Financial Services Champion of the Year 
Criteria: Individual or partners who assist small businesses through advocacy to increase usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services.

To nominate a Vermont small business, email the name of the business along with the owner’s name and specific award category the company is being nominated for to [email protected].  The SBA Vermont District Office will then follow up with the business. Businesses may self-nominate.

Source: 10.12.2023. MONTPELIER, Vt. — The SBA Vermont District Office