SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman has announced National Small Business Week (NSBW) will take place from April 30-May 6, 2023. This annual tradition, led by the SBA for over 60 years, is co-hosted by SCORE, which mentors America’s small businesses.
“National Small Business Week celebrates the resilience, innovation, and economic power of America’s small businesses and innovative startups,” said Administrator Guzman. “Amidst a record-breaking 10.5 million people applying to start a new business under the Biden-Harris Administration, I’m thrilled to showcase our highly-impactful entrepreneurs who build prosperity in their communities while strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness.”
The SBA played a critical role in saving our small businesses, helping Main Street recover, driving market innovation, and powering a historic 10.5 million small business applications. But the work is not done, and long-standing challenges still persist for many small business owners. That is why the SBA will double down on our efforts to ensure we are meeting small businesses and startups everywhere they are, including helping entrepreneurs navigate the evolving marketplace so that they can start, grow and sustain their businesses.
This year marks the return of in-person awards ceremonies in Washington, D.C., for the first time since 2019. On Sunday, April 30, and Monday, May 1, 2023, the SBA will recognize the 2023 Small Business Persons of the Year representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. One state/territory Small Business Person of the Year will be named the 2023 National Small Business Person of the Year at the award ceremony on Monday, May 1.
After kicking off the week at the awards ceremony in D.C., Administrator Guzman will hit the road and visit four cities. During the stops, she will be joined by local area elected officials, honor local award-winning small businesses, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the small business community. The NSBW tour will take place from May 2-5, with stops in St. Louis, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The SBA will also again cosponsor a virtual summit of business education forums. Additional details about speakers and topics will be announced soon.
The SBA invites all small business owners, policymakers, and stakeholders to participate in National Small Business Week and support the millions of small businesses that are the job creators, spur innovation, and help drive economic growth nationwide.
According to the New Jersey Office of Small Business Advocacy, New Jersey ranks 11th in the number of small businesses in the U.S., with over 861,000 enterprises. Small businesses are important to our community because they contribute to the local economy by creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and providing goods and services to local residents. They also add to Bergen County communities’ unique character and charm and often support other local businesses and organizations.
For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/NSBW.
