The U.S. Small Business Administration highlights the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states and U.S. territories during National Small Business Week. If you are an innovator, risk-taker, and job creator who pours your heart and soul into starting, growing, and expanding a business, you should nominate yourself for an award by December 22, 2025. Winners will be feted nationally and in New Mexico in early May 2026.

National and district-level award categories vary to ensure that New Mexico District innovators are recognized.

National awards include Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, and the Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery and Mitigation. National awardees will be honored during a two-day event in Washington, D.C. that includes networking and educational sessions and offers national publicity. The SBA will furnish a media opportunities kit to help winners prepare marketing materials, press releases, and other messaging.

Ten local awards given by the New Mexico District Office of the SBA include Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year and Women-Owned Small Business of the Year. Small-business support organizations also have award categories, and nominees must fit within the award category as described and demonstrate success. Local awardees will be celebrated at a New Mexico event that brings together media and stakeholders from the statewide small business community.

Small businesses, as defined by the SBA, are eligible to nominate themselves or someone else. Individuals or organizations dedicated to the support of the small business community in the United States, such as trade and professional associations and business organizations, may also submit nominations.

Nominations must be submitted by 12:00 pm MST on December 22, 2025. Find the criteria and application for local awards on the New Mexico District Office website. Information about national awards, whose winners are selected from local awards, can be found on the national SBA website.

The U.S. Small Business Administration supports the nation’s small businesses through disaster recovery, certificate programs, and loans that are initiated by local lenders. Read more about SBA loans.