BY JILL D’AMICO

The New York District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for their New York State 2008 Small Business Person of the Year, as well as nine other small business categories, including Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and Small Business Exporter of the Year.

The SBA is looking for nominees that demonstrated growth, job creation and/or retention, and community involvement – in other words, everything that makes a business successful. The New York State winner will be announced in April, and then will go on to compete for the 2008 National Small Business Person of the Year. That announcement will cap National Small Business Week at a Washington, D.C. ceremony later in the spring.

The SBA is also asking for nominations for advocates of small business, in categories like Small Business Journalist, Financial Services Champion, Minority Small Business Champion, and Home-Based Business Champion.

“We are looking to our elected officials, economic development partners and individuals in New York City, Long Island and the downstate counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putman, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester to nominate the best and most deserving small businesses and champions for these awards,” said Jose Sifontes, SBA district director in New York.   

If you know anyone or business deserving of the honor, or to learn more, log on to www.sba.gov/nominationsguidelines for nomination criteria, guidelines and forms.

Submissions are to be made to Anna Hernandez, U.S. Small Business Administration, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3100, New York, NY, 10278.

Self-nominations are permitted and any questions should be directed to Ms. Hernandez at 212-264-9487.

The postmark and hand-delivery deadline for nominations is November 23, 2007.