Deadline approaching for the GTP's 41st annual Small Business Awards
On Tuesday, May 10, the Greater Topeka Partnership plans to recognize local businesses for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the Topeka/Shawnee County community. Community members can be a part of this process by nominating one or more businesses for consideration. To be eligible for consideration, businesses must be located within Shawnee County; must have 100 or fewer employees, including the business’ owner(s); must have been in business for a minimum of 2 or 3 years, depending on the award category; and must be a for-profit entity. Award categories include the following:
Young Entrepreneur Award — recognizes a business owner, founder or co-founder between the ages of 18 and 30 for outstanding business achievement
Micro Enterprise Award — recognizes a business with five or fewer employees for outstanding business achievement
Emerging Innovation Venture Award — recognizes a business for achieving commercialization milestones in bringing an innovative solution or technology to market
Women-Owned Business Award — recognizes a woman-owned small business for outstanding business achievement; the business must be at least 51% owned, controlled and managed by one or more women
Minority-Owned Small Business Award — recognizes a minority-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement; the business must be at least 51% owned, controlled and managed by one or more individuals belonging to the following ethnic/minority groups: African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian-Pacific American and South-Asian American
Veteran-Owned Business Award — recognizes a veteran-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement; the business must be at least 51% owned, controlled and managed by one or more U.S. veterans
Small Business Manufacturer Award — recognizes a business that designs, manufactures, fabricates, assembles or processes a finished product (including value-added food products)
Small Business Exporter Award — recognizes a business for success and dedication to selling products or services internationally
Top City Small Business of the Year — recognizes a business for outstanding performance, notable industry or community contributions, and representation of Topeka
The nomination form and information about evaluation criteria are available here: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/5Y1d0nc7/41st-annual-small-business-awards-nomination-form-6a185Y1aZRgW/overview. All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 4.
“Small businesses are an integral part of our local economy and make the fabric of our community that much more vibrant,” said Laurie Pieper, vice president of entrepreneurship and small business for GO Topeka. “The partnership’s Small Business Awards are designed to celebrate the contributions and differences these local businesses make — but we can’t recognize them for their achievements without help from the community, their customers. I hope area residents will take a few minutes today to nominate a small business they think has gone above and beyond in making Topeka and Shawnee County a better place to live, work and play, because when our small businesses thrive, our community thrives.”
