Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the following 2019 National Small Business Week resource partners as national winners for their impact on local economic development and support of small business creation and growth in the U.S.:
- Montana Women’s Business Center
- Ohio Small Business Development Center at Youngstown State University
- Veterans Business Outreach Center at Gulf Coast State College
- SCORE Portland Maine
The awards will be presented to the winners in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 5, 2019, to kickoff National Small Business Week celebrations that are taking place across the nation. The D.C. award ceremonies will be livestreamed on the SBA’s Facebook page,www.facebook.com/sbagov at 6:00 p.m. (EDT).
Each year, the SBA counsels, trains and advises more than one million entrepreneurs and small business owners with the help of its resource partners. Together, SBA Resource Partners provide business consulting, access to capital, mentoring services, specialized trainings and the expertise for each stage of a business’s lifecycle. Their outstanding efforts have supported the growth of small businesses that have helped drive the nation’s economy. Entrepreneurs receiving resource partner assistance are more likely to start a business and successfully obtain financing necessary for business growth.
The SBA congratulates the following 2019 Resource Partner national award winners:
Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
Montana Women’s Business Center (WBC)
Suzi Berget White, Director
Bozeman, Montana
The Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award honors an SBA WBC for its excellence and innovation in assisting women entrepreneurs by providing diverse training and counseling. Since 2009, the Montana WBC has provided outstanding business counseling and training services to women entrepreneurs and has served as a critical resource to underserved women in the state of Montana, giving them the opportunity to excel in business and contribute to the economic growth of the state.
Small Business Development Service Excellence and Innovation Award
Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Youngstown State University
Patricia Veisz, Director
Youngstown, Ohio
For over 30 years, the Ohio SBDC at Youngstown State University has helped accelerate small business growth and job creation. It has contributed to northeast Ohio’s economic development by providing specialized consulting and high-impact programs and services, which have resulted in new business startups and capital infusion.
Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award
Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Gulf Coast State College
Brenton Peacock, Associate Director
Panama City, Fla.
The Florida VBOC’s staff serves a state with one of the largest number of military installations in the U.S. The VBOC provides free entrepreneurial training and business consulting to veterans, active duty military, military spouses, National Guard and Reservists in an area spanning 832 miles. In addition, its clients were awarded 77 government contracts totaling $22 million despite being temporarily closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.
SCORE Chapter of the Year
SCORE Portland Maine
Nancy Strojny, Chapter Chair
Portland, Maine
SCORE Portland Maine has a proven track record of results and the ability to create sustained community impact. With more than 70 skilled mentors and added educational workshops, the chapter has helped Southern Maine’s small businesses to start and grow.
In addition to national awards ceremonies in Washington, D.C., SBA offices in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam will celebrate National Small Business Week May 5-11, 2019, with additional events for small business owners and entrepreneurs. For more information on National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.