Montana SBA seeking nominations for top small business owners and advocates

DO YOU KNOW OF A SMALL BUSINESS OR SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION?

SBA is seeking nominations for the state’s top small business owners and advocates

The SBA Montana District Office is actively seeking nominations for the 2010 Small Business Week Awards to be announced in May 2010. Nominations are being accepted for outstanding small business owners and advocates in a variety of categories ranging from the Montana Small Business Person of the Year to the Financial Services Advocate of the Year. This year the Montana District Office has introduced a new category, the Community/Rural Lender of the Year. This award will recognize lenders that have exhibited an ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and expansion of small businesses. For a complete list of award categories and nomination guidelines log onto http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/mt/news/index.html.

Any individual or organization such as professional and trade associations, business organizations, chambers of commerce, banks or employees of a small business, can submit nominations. Nominations will be evaluated on the basis of staying power, growth in number of employees, financial growth, innovation of product or service, response to adversity, small business advocacy, and community involvement.

All nominations must be mailed or delivered to the Montana SBA District Office, 10 W. 15th. St., Suite 1100, Helena, MT 59626, no later than November 13, 2009. For additional information on the Small Business Week Awards program, or to request nomination forms, please contact SBA’s Crystal Baker at 406.441.1089.