In Support of Small Business

Saturday's "Shop Local" campaign is a great way to call attention to the small businesses that make our community unique and special. But these local businesses extend to products and services that go beyond storefronts. I'm excited and humbled to be a part of a committee that is searching out these businesses for Small Business Administration awards. The work we're doing now will call attention to the Rio Grande Valley businesses regionally and, perhaps even nationally.

If you own or know of a locally-owned small business that deserves recognition for its contributions to our community and to the economy, let me know. There is still time to nominate. In addition to the Business Person of the Year, we are going to be selecting nominees for these categories:

• Small Business Exporter of the Year: Any individual who owns and operates a small business engaged in exporting may be nominated.
• SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year: To be considered a young entrepreneur, the individual must serve as a majority owner and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with a three-year track record, and who will not have reached the age of 30 by June 1, 2014.
• Environmental “Green” Conservator of the Year*: Any individual who owns and operates a small business that employs, promotes and exemplifies environmental innovation in manufacturing, technology, recycling, architectural design, conservation, waste reduction and/or organic/holistic products.
• Innovation Through Technology Business of the Year*: This award honors a small business that creates and/or discovers an innovation that breaks with conventional processes and goes beyond marginal improvements in areas such as manufacturing, medicine, software, the Internet, wireless and consumer electronics and can be in the form of new products, patents, inventions or services.
• Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year: This award honors a family-owned and operated business which has been passed on from one generation to another. The owner must also serve as a majority owner and operator or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business with at least a 15-year track record.
• Small Business Journalist of the Year: Journalists representing television, radio, electronic or print media who report and champion small business issues may be nominated.
• Financial Services Champion of the Year: Individuals who assist small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase the usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services for small businesses may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.
• Home-Based Business Champion of the Year: Individuals who have experienced the rewards and difficulties of owning a home-based business and have volunteered to improve the climate for these businesses may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be current small business owners.
• Minority Small Business Champion of the Year: Individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to support minority entrepreneurship may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.
• Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year: Individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. armed forces may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be veterans.
• Women in Business Champion of the Year: Individuals who have fulfilled a commitment to the advancement of women’s business ownership may be nominated. Nominees may or may not be small business owners.

If you'd like your business to be considered, or want to recommend one, please let me know ASAP. E-mail me at Julia@onevoice2.com.

We'll be reviewing our nominees on Dec. 17, so please e-mail me no later than Thursday, Dec. 5 so I can forward you the additional information you need.