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Community | EventsAugust 25, 2025

Nominations Open for »¨¼¾ÊÓƵ Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards at Bakery District

Written By: Rachel Putman

The University of »¨¼¾ÊÓƵ – Fort »¨¼¾ÊÓƵ Center for Economic Development will host the second annual Excellence in Family and Small Business Awards from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Bakery District in downtown Fort »¨¼¾ÊÓƵ.

The event recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievements among regional family-owned and small businesses, as well as business advisors who support these enterprises.

Nominations for the 2025 awards are open through Sept. 17. Individuals, family-owned businesses, small businesses, and advisors may be nominated online.

Nominees do not need to be affiliated with the Jim Walcott Family Enterprise Center or the »¨¼¾ÊÓƵ Small Business and Technology Development Center to be considered.

Award categories are divided into three primary groups: Small Business Awards, Family-Owned Business Awards, and the Business Advisor of the Year Award.

Small Business Awards include:

• Women-Owned Business Award
• Minority-Owned Business Award
• Technology and Innovation Business Award
• Early Success and Growth Award
• Small Business of the Year Award

To qualify for a Small Business Award, businesses must have no more than 50 employees.

Family-Owned Business Awards include:

• Legacy Champion Award
• Emerging Luminary Award
• Family Unity Award
• Business Renewal Award
• Family Business of the Year Award

To qualify as a family business, businesses must have at least two family members in management roles and hold a controlling interest.

The Business Advisor of the Year Award will honor a professional who has delivered exceptional advisory support to small or family-owned businesses, contributing to their sustainability and growth. Nominees can be from fields such as finance, legal, insurance, accounting, or business consulting.

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