Awards


	2009 Winners
	Nominees
	Awards
	Sponsors
	2008 Awards

Each year, Small Business Week gives out awards in the following categories: Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Advocate of the Year, Non-Profit of the year, Jesse J. Lewis, Jr. Community Service Award and the Centennial Award. Below is a brief description of each and who is eligible. Click here for information on nominations.

Small Business Person of the Year

Purpose: To recognize small businesses in the Birmingham region who fully represent the entrepreneurial spirit and have used their position to not only grow the local economy but to improve their local community.

Eligibility: Any individual who owns and manages a small business is eligible. Partners who jointly own and operate a small business may be nominated as a team. The team must not exceed three. In order to qualify, the nominee must own his/her business at the time of the award presentation and must have been in business for at least three consecutive years.

Small Business Advocate of the Year

Purpose: To recognize an individual who has fulfilled a commitment to promote and support small business owners and facilitate small business entrepreneurship throughout the Birmingham region.

Eligibility: Individuals must have demonstrated volunteerism beyond business/professional responsibilities to advance small business interests and a commitment to advance a positive change in the small business community. Nominated individuals must support small business, but do not need to be employed by a small business.

Non-Profit of the Year

Purpose: To acknowledge the efforts of organizations in the Birmingham area whose passion has inspired them to accept the mission of bettering their community. Nominated organizations will demonstrate a high level of quality and consistency in the pursuit of their mission, as well as a business-minded structure.

Eligibility: Organizations must be located within the seven-county Birmingham region, be a registered 501(c)(3) and have an operating budget of $2.0 million or less.

Jesse J. Lewis, Jr. Community Service Award

Purpose: To recognize outstanding civic-minded corporate and community leaders in the Birmingham area. This award was started in 1995 and is given in memory of Jesse J. Lewis, Jr., a businessman whose legacy of community service has personified corporate citizenship in our region.

Eligibility: Individuals must have demonstrated volunteerism beyond business/professional responsibilities to advance a positive change in the Birmingham regional community. Nominated individuals must be employed by a small business, defined as having 500 employees or less.

Centennial Award

Purpose: To acknowledges the efforts of Birmingham-based small businesses that have been in business at least one-hundred years. Companies nominated for this honor must demonstrate a history of community involvement.

Eligibility: Companies must have no more than 500 employees and must demonstrate a consistent presence in the small business community, as well as involvement in community service activities.

A special thanks to our sponsor:

Small Business Week is planned and executed by the Small Business Committee. For questions or concerns, please contact Patricia Mattison at (205) 241-8114.