SBA Upstate New York Announces Rural Small Business Owner of the Year
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Upstate New York District Officeannounced their business owner winners for National Small Business Week of 2024. For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week, which acknowledges the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. To be nominated for an SBA Award, candidates must be a legal resident of The United States or its Territories, own and operate, or bear principal responsibility of the small business for at least three years and have participated in at least one type of SBA assistance, such as access to capital, business counseling, or disaster assistance. Candidates are then scored on the following criteria: staying power, employee growth, past three years increase in profit, response to adversity, and contributions to community-oriented projects. SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman observed “Our 2024 National Small Business Week award winners exemplify excellence, innovation, and commitment, and the SBA is proud to showcase their incredible achievements and impact on their communities and our economy. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, more Americans than ever before are pursuing the American dream of business ownership and able to access more opportunities, with historic investments in communities across America in local infrastructure, broadband, manufacturing, innovation, and clean energy. National Small Business Week is the nation’s opportunity to lift up the amazing entrepreneurs, small business advocates, local partners, advisors, lenders, and investors who support America’s entrepreneurial spirit and the historic Biden-Harris Small Business Boom.” The winners from the Upstate New York District Office, which covers 34 counties in Upstate and Central New York, are: National Small Business Person of the Year for New York State Aneesa Waheed of Tara Kitchen
Upstate District Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year Denise Padula of Alchar Printing
Upstate District Veteran Owned Small Business Person of the Year Michael Mowins of Vetted Tech
Upstate District Rural Owned Small Business Person of the Year Mark Braun of Doug’s Fish Fry
About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov