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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office rolled out its 2023 Small Business Week and Top Lenders/Top CDC Awards Luncheon in high style on Thursday, May 18th at The Westin in Jackson. Lots of smiling faces adorned the room of about 130 in attendance to support and congratulate this year’s winners including representatives from congressional offices; federal, state and municipal agency representatives; industry; economic development reps; small businesses; lenders; academia, etc. SBA Associate Administrator for the Office of Field Operations, Washington, DC Jen Kim participated in the event bringing greetings and assisted SBA Mississippi District Director Janita R. Stewart and Deputy District Director Ashlei Donerson in presenting awards to all of the winners.

Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District also received recognition. (Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office)

SBA Economic Development Specialist Jeremy Sanford kicked off the event welcoming the attendees and leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mississippi Public Broadcasting Radio Program Host Germaine Flood served as the Mistress of Ceremony. Acknowledgement from the podium was given to Veterans, active-duty military and members of the National Guard and Reserves as well as recognition was given for the observance of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. An update on SBA disaster recovery activity ongoing in Mississippi was presented by Karen Knapik, Public Affairs Officer in the SBA Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. SBA Supv Lender Relations Specialist Rhonda Fisher and Lender Relations Specialist Rosetta Harris led the lender awards presentation of the event where the top five lenders for highest number of SBA loans made and the top five lenders for the highest dollar volume approved, along with the top Microlender, top CDC, and top Third-Party lender were presented with awards for their FFY 2022 SBA loan productivity. There was a total of 293 SBA loans approved for approximately $137 million creating/retaining 2,871 jobs in Mississippi. These top lenders are Peoples Bank; BankFirst Financial Services; Trustmark National Bank; Community Bank; Covington County Bank; Southern Bancorp Bank; Renaissance Community Loan Fund; Cadence Bank; and Three Rivers Local Development Company, Inc.

A local entrepreneur, Nick Wallace, Owner/Chef of Nick Wallace Culinary, LLC was presented with the top award as Small Business Person of the Year. Other Small Business Week awards included Tony and Elizabeth Reimonenq as Minority Small Business Champions with Linked Up, Inc., Hattiesburg; Rural Small Business of the Year is Shannon Arick, Bits N Pieces, LLC, West Point; Veterans Small Business Champion, Mike Pornovets with the Veterans Business Outreach Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville; and LeAnn Wade and Tammie Nicole Garner, Sole Sisters, LLC, Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, Seminary.

Recognition was given to the two Resource Partners of the Year – The U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District for their support of the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program for Mississippi 8(a) firms; and Community Navigator Hub, Community Students Learning Center, for the outreach and technical assistance provided to clients within its footprint and beyond.

The event concluded by giving due recognition to the vetted in-kind donors who supported the event, lots of picture-taking, and a delicious meal enjoyed by all!

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