News Summary
Alabama has opened nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards, recognizing local entrepreneurs across various categories. Categories include Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned, Small Business Manufacturer, and Rural-Owned Business of the Year. The winners will compete for state and national titles, with the ceremony planned in Washington, D.C. in May 2026. The initiative aims to highlight the significant impact of small businesses in Alabama’s economy, where they represent 99.4% of all businesses and employ a large portion of the workforce.
Alabama is officially opening nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards, a program initiated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to honor and recognize local entrepreneurs. Nominations are now being accepted for various categories, showcasing the contributions and successes of small businesses across the state.
The award categories include:
- Veteran-Owned Business of the Year: This category honors veteran business owners who have been operational in Alabama for at least three years.
- Women-Owned Business Person of the Year: This recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to supporting women’s business ownership.
- Small Business Manufacturer of the Year: This award highlights the innovation and growth of small manufacturing firms within Alabama.
- Rural-Owned Business of the Year: This category is dedicated to businesses located in USDA-designated rural areas that demonstrate exceptional growth and performance.
State-level winners of these categories will compete for the title of SBA’s State Small Business Person of the Year. Those who win at the state level will advance to the national competition for the 2026 National Small Business Person of the Year award, with a ceremony planned in Washington, D.C. in May. Nominations for these categories must be submitted electronically by 6 a.m. CST on December 8, 2025.
In addition to the state-specific awards, the SBA also offers national awards in areas including export, disaster recovery, and federal procurement. Detailed information and nomination forms are available on the SBA’s official National Small Business Week webpage.
Governor Kay Ivey has officially proclaimed the week of May 5-11, 2025, as National Small Business Week in Alabama, recognizing the vital role that small businesses play in the state’s economy. According to statistics, small businesses account for 99.4% of all businesses in Alabama and employ 46.7% of the private sector workforce, underscoring their significance to local and statewide economic health.
The announcement of the awards comes at a time of promising growth for small businesses in the region. A recent analysis by the fintech platform BILL highlighted that Birmingham and Tuscaloosa are among the fastest-growing cities for small business activity in the United States as of 2025. This growth is attributed to a trending increase in small business activity in mid-sized cities, a shift that surfaced following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Factors contributing to this increase in small business activity include a favorable climate, affordable housing, and a supportive business environment in the South. Significant growth was seen in various Alabama cities, notably Mobile, which reported a staggering 437% increase in B2B payments since March 2020. Montgomery and Huntsville also experienced impressive growth rates, with 50% and 128% growth in B2B payments respectively during the same timeframe.
The week-long celebration of National Small Business Week is set to highlight these achievements and the ongoing contributions of small businesses to the economic landscape of Alabama. With nominations for the awards now open, local entrepreneurs have the opportunity to gain recognition for their hard work and impact within their communities.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Yellowhammer News: SBA Opens Alabama Nominations for 2025 Small Business Week Awards
- Wikipedia: Small Business
- AL.com: Fastest Growing Cities for Small Business Activity
- Google Search: Small Business Week
- Birmingham Times: JPMorgan Chase Commits to Small Businesses
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Small Business
- WHNT: Huntsville Couple Named Small Business Persons of the Year
- Google News: Small Business Alabama
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.
