National Small Business Week Awards 2018 How to Put Together a Winning Nomination Package Indiana District Office www.bit.ly/SBAIn_NSBWAwards
National Small Business Week Awards 2018
How to Put Together a Winning Nomination Package
Indiana District Office
www.bit.ly/SBAIn_NSBWAwards
Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
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Award Categories
• Small Business Person of the Year
• Exporter of the Year
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year
• Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award
• Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award
Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
What judges look for in a company
• Staying power
• Economic impact
• Contributions to society
• Innovativeness
• Overcoming obstacles
• A compelling story
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nominee Benefits
• Free media—social and traditional
• Increased community credibility
• Increased trust
• Opportunity to be recognized by employees, customers, and colleagues
• Opportunity to draw attention to partnerships in the community
• Opportunity to tell your company’s fantastic story
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nominator Benefits
• Free media—social and traditional
• Increased community credibility
• Increased trust
• Opportunity to recognize employees, customers, and colleagues
• Opportunity to draw attention to small business in your community
• Opportunity to tell you company’s story and how you are there for your
community
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Forms
• Small Business Person of the Year Award
• Exporter of the Year
• 8(a) Graduate of the Year Award
• Don’t forget!! All nominees are required to complete SBA Background
Form 3300
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Checklist
Completed SBA Background Form 3300
• For team nominations, a completed SBA Background Form 3300 is required for each member of the team
Completed nomination form
An original 8x10 or 5x7 photo of each nominee
• If sending a digital photo, it must be at least 300dpi
• Photocopies WILL NOT be accepted. Photos must be originals or 300+dpi digitals
Supporting documentation such as:
Media clippings Community awards
Letters of recommendation Organizational awards
Nomination letter Customer testimonials
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Tips—Part 1
• The basics
• Number of employees
• Annual sales in 2014, 2015, and 2016
• North American Industrial Classification code: http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics
• Make sure that the company being nominated meets SBA Size Standards
• http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/contracting/contracting-
officials/eligibility-size-standards
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Tips—Part 2
• Tell a great story!
• What makes this company unique?
• What makes them different?
• How are they innovative?
• How do they make you smile?
• How many great paying jobs have they created?
• Emphasize accomplishments!
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Tips—Do!
• Organize the package according to the guidelines
• Label sections/pages in order
• Be specific when siting examples of excellence
• Include articles, accolades and media coverage that showcases the
business
• Include letters of support from respected colleagues, community, and
business leaders (…and start contacting them for their letters of support NOW!)
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Tips—Don’t!
• Omit any sections
• Omit the pictures
• Exceed the page limit
• Delay putting the package together
• Miss the deadline
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Delivery
• Completed nomination package MUST be MAILED or HAND-DELIVERED to
the Indiana District Office no later than January 9, 2018
• Address package as follows:
SBA Indiana District Office
ATTN: LAURA SCHAFSNITZ
8500 Keystone Crossing, Suite 400
Indianapolis, IN 46240
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Deadline
• JANUARY 9, 2018
• JANUARY 9, 2018
•JANUARY 9, 2018
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
What Happens Next
• Winners of Small Business, Exporter, and 8(a) Graduate of the Year are
submitted to SBA Headquarters to contend for national level awards
• National awards will be awarded during National Small Business Week
events in Washington D.C. during the week of April 29 – May 5, 2018
• State awards will be awarded during a luncheon in Indianapolis during
the week of April 29 -- May 5, 2018
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
Nomination Package Deadline--REMINDER
• JANUARY 9, 2018
• JANUARY 9, 2018
•JANUARY 9, 2018
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Indiana District Office NSBW Awards 2018
SBA Indiana District Office Point of Contact
Laura Schafsnitz
317-226-7272 ext. 140
www.bit.ly/SBAIn_NSBWAwards