News Summary
The annual Small Business of the Year Awards in Alabama recognized 40 local entrepreneurs for their contributions to the community. Held at The Club in Birmingham, the event highlighted the importance of small businesses, which make up 99.4% of the state’s economy. Awards were presented across multiple categories, showcasing the winners’ community involvement and business success. Additionally, initiatives to support small businesses include the Alabama Capital Access Collaborative and new grants aimed at fostering growth, demonstrating Alabama’s commitment to its small business landscape.
Alabama celebrated local entrepreneurs at the annual Small Business of the Year Awards, recognizing 40 outstanding small business owners for their contributions to the community and economy. The event took place at The Club in Birmingham and was organized by the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.
Small businesses are the backbone of Alabama’s economy, constituting 99.4% of all businesses in the state. The Small Business of the Year Awards featured various categories, including emerging small businesses, small businesses with 1-10 employees, 11-50 employees, and 51-100 employees. Award winners were selected based on community involvement, chamber participation, business success, and deservedness.
Recipients of the 2024 Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards included:
- Emerging Small Business of the Year:
- Gold: Anderson Family Care
- Silver: InSight Strategic Solutions
- Bronze: Blueprint Taxes & Services
- Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees):
- Gold: Wiregrass Wealth Management
- Silver: Stephen’s Hotdog Wagon
- Bronze: adr Business & Marketing Strategies
- Small Business of the Year (11-50 employees):
- Gold: Johnny’s Bar-B-Q
- Silver: Boostr Digital Displays
- Bronze: Personnel Resources
- Small Business of the Year (51-100 employees):
- Gold: WM Grocery
- Silver: Sand Mountain Toyota
- Bronze: Heritage South Credit Union
Winners were selected from nominations submitted by local chambers of commerce statewide and evaluated by judges from outside Alabama.
As part of expanding support for small businesses, the Alabama Capital Access Collaborative was established with a significant $2 million investment from JPMorganChase. This initiative aims to enhance small business capital access across Alabama. Complementing this, Birmingham nonprofit Urban Impact received a $200,000 grant from JPMorganChase to support its Birmingham Community Impact Fund, which provides microloans ranging from $500 to $25,000.
The first phase of the Capital Access Collaborative will be managed by the Milken Institute, focusing on operational needs and growth for participating organizations. Noteworthy participants include the Birmingham Business Resource Center, Opportunity Alabama, and several financial institutions.
Additionally, PROJECTXYZ, Inc. was honored as Alabama’s Small Business Persons of the Year for 2025 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organization’s owners, Kim and Larry Lewis, were recognized for their commitment to Alabama’s thriving small business scenery.
The Alabama Small Business Development Network also announced several other awards based on business growth and community contributions. Recent analyses indicated that Birmingham and Tuscaloosa have emerged as some of the best cities for small businesses, showcasing a trend of growth in midsize cities in Alabama, particularly in the post-COVID-19 landscape. This recognition stems from data on business-to-business payments, indicating healthy local spending and demographic shifts.
Further supporting this growth, JPMorganChase announced plans to increase its branch presence in Alabama, with a goal to hire 170 bankers by 2030, thus enhancing local access to financial services. These concerted efforts illustrate the ongoing commitment to supporting small businesses, which are critical to the economy and community spirit of Alabama.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- AL.com: Birmingham Nonprofit Awarded JPMorgan Chase Small Business Grants
- Wikipedia: Small Business
- Birmingham Times: JPMorgan Chase Commits $2 Million
- Google Search: Alabama Small Business grants
- WVTM13: National Small Business Week in Alabama
- Google Scholar: Alabama Small Business development
- The Bama Buzz: Alabama Cities Ranked for Small Business Growth
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Small Business
- Alabama News Center: Birmingham’s Small Business Week
- Google News: Alabama Small Business Week
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER
The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
