GRAND RAPIDS – The nomination deadline for the fifth annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business recognition program for entrepreneurs and supporters of small business has been extended to Nov. 21. In addition, the application deadline for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch has been extended to Dec. 12.
Nomination forms are available now at MichiganCelebrates.Biz
Michigan Celebrates Small Business is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Small Business Administration �?? Michigan, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center and the Edward Lowe Foundation.
Award categories are Small Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneurial Success Award, Family-Owned Business of the Year, Small Business Exporter, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Financial Services Champion of the Year, Home-Based Business Champion of the Year, Michigan Small Business Counselor of the Year, Minority Small Business Champion of the Year, Small Business Journalist of the Year, Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year, Women In Business Champion of the Year, The Innovation Award, Main Street USA Best Small Business Award and Government Contract Award.
In addition, the Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards include Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. This program is sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation and each year recognizes and celebrates the contributions, innovation and energy of 50 diverse second-stage companies in Michigan. Nominations can come from service providers (such as attorneys, bankers, accountants, public relations representatives, economic development offices, etc.) Companies may also self-nominate. Nominees will receive an e-mail with instructions to complete an online application by Dec. 12.
Winners will be recognized April 30, 2009, at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business event and dinner at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing.
Underwriters for this year�??s Michigan Celebrates Small Business are National City, Clark Hill PLC Attorneys at Law, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, IBM and Dynamic Edge, Inc. Media partners are MiBiz, Crain�??s Detroit Business, Upper Peninsula Business Today, MITechNews.Com, WWJ Newsradio 950 and The Daily Dash, and the Greater Lansing Business Monthly.
The Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center provides counseling, training and advocacy for Michigan�??s new business ventures, existing small businesses, expanding new businesses, new technology companies, and innovators. The MI-SBTDC is located at the Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As host of the MI-SBTDC State Headquarters, the Seidman College of Business oversees the twelve-region MI-SBTDC network. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest MI-SBTDC by calling (616) 331.7480 or by clicking on MISBTDC.Org
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