A new online portal was launched by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to accept nominations for its 2013 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year award. The portal, accessible at http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/, will make it easier to submit and track submissions of nominees for Small Business Week 2013, and is now actively accepting nominations of noteworthy small businesses.

Since 1963, National Small Business Week has recognized the outstanding achievements of America’s small businesses for their contributions to their local communities, and to the national economy. In 2013, the 50th year celebration will honor the nation’s 27 million small businesses.

SBA awards given in celebration of National Small Business Week include:

National Small Business Person of the Year (chosen from among state award winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) Phoenix Awards (recognizing outstanding accomplishments during disaster recovery) Small Business Prime Contractor of the YearSmall Business Subcontractor of the YearThe Dwight D. Eisenhower Award for Excellence (recognizes large prime contractors who have used small businesses as suppliers and contractors) SBA 8(a) Graduate of the Year (for recent graduates of the SBA’s 8(a) contracting program) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Excellence and Innovation Award (nominations of SBA-funded SBDC Service Centers) Women’s Business Center (WBCs) of Excellence Award (nominations of SBA-funded WBCs) Veterans Business Outreach Center Excellence in Service Award (nominations of SBA-funded Veterans Business Outreach Centers)

In addition to the portal, nominations can also be sent directly to SBA District Offices, which can be located online at http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-list/2. All nominations must be submitted or postmarked by January 3, 2013.

Winners will be invited to Washington, D.C., to compete for national titles and to attend National Small Business Week events in 2013.