SBA Salutes Small Businesses that Drive America’s Economy At National Small Business Week May 18-20

Event Features Awards, Forums, and the Naming of National Small Business Person of the Year – Events Open To Public

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nation’s top entrepreneurs will be honored at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week events May 18-20 in Washington, D.C. Under the theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs,” a series of events and educational forums will mark the 58^th anniversary of the agency and the 48^th annual proclamation of National Small Business Week.

“Small business owners and employees across America are proving their resiliency as they continue to drive the nation out of recession through economic growth and job creation”

More than 100 outstanding small business owners from across the country will receive awards while gathering for three days at the city’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel. They will meet with top administration officials, congressional representatives and national business leaders. The highlight of the celebration will be the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.

Men and women also will be recognized for their involvement in disaster recovery, government contracting, and their support for small businesses and entrepreneurship, and awards will be presented to SBA partners in financial and entrepreneurial development, including the year’s top SCORE Chapter, Small Business Development Center and Women’s Business Center.

Interested parties can register online at www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com where additional information is available. The event will also be webcast live at the web site.

“Small business owners and employees across America are proving their resiliency as they continue to drive the nation out of recession through economic growth and job creation,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “National Small Business Week gives us an opportunity to honor their achievements and the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and determination that makes them the engine of our economy and our nation’s economic recovery.”

The State Small Business award winners and recipients of the Champion and other Entrepreneurial awards are nominated by local trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations and government agencies.

Small Business Week 2011 Tentative Schedule of Events
Wednesday, May 18
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Registration Open
	Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm	Opening Reception
	U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Rooms
	Sponsored by AT&T
Thursday, May 19
8:00 am – 5:00 pm	Registration Open
	Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area
	Sponsored by Microsoft
8:00 am – 5:00 pm	Cyber Café Open
	Mandarin Oriental, Sackler Room
	Sponsored by Google
8:30 am – 9:45 am	National Awards Breakfast Honoring Procurement Award Winners
	Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom
	Sponsored by Raytheon
10:00 am – 11:15 am	Forum #1: Social Media
	Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom
	Sponsored by Intuit
11:30 am –12:45 pm	Forum #2: Strategies for High Growth, High Impact Firms
	Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom
	Sponsored by Careerbuilder.com
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm	Phoenix Awards Luncheon
	Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm	Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials
	and the Cyber Cafe
	Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm	Congressional Reception
	Location TBD
Friday, May 20
8:00 am – 2:00 pm	Registration Open
	Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area
	Sponsored by Microsoft
8:00 am – 5:00 pm	Cyber Café Open
	Mandarin Oriental, Sackler Room
	Sponsored by Google
8:30 am – 9:45 am	Breakfast Honoring the Entrepreneurial Development
	and Lender Award Winners
	Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom
	Sponsored by Northrop Grumman
10:00 am – 12:00 pm	Exporting Tools for Success
	Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm	National Awards Luncheon Honoring State Small Business Winners
	Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom
	Sponsored by Sam’s Club
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm	Networking Time – Visit Sponsor Tables, SBA Officials
	and the Cyber Café
	Mandarin Oriental Exhibit Areas
7:30 pm – 11:00 pm	Champion Award Winners Gala
	Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom
	Sponsored by Visa

Media Contacts:	Dennis Byrne	Cecelia Taylor
	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
	202-205-6567	202-401-3059

Small Business Week 2011 sponsors and cosponsors include: Association of Small Business Development Companies, AT&T, CareerBuilder, Dun & Bradstreet, Google, Intuit, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, National Association of Development Companies, National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, National Association for the Self-Employed, Nomadic Display, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Sam's Club, SCORE, Verio, Visa, and Women Impacting Public Policy.

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting [e-mail]. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2011.

Release Number: 11-18