Small Business Week 2015 Kicks Off with Slogan "Dream Big, Start Small"

Today in Miami and Boca Raton, Fla, the U.S. Small Business Administration kicked off National Small Business Week 2015. The theme this year is “Dream Big, Start Small.” National Small Business Week is being held from May 4-8, and is an annual event hosted by the SBA to recognize the nation’s top small businesses, entrepreneurs, small business advocates and champions.

SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet will meet with Office Depot CEO Roland Smith at Office Depot Inc., headquarters in Boca Raton where they will speak to an audience filled with small business owners. Other cities the Administrator will visit include: Los Angeles, May 5; San Antonio, May 6; New York City, May 7; and Washington, D.C., May 8.

Throughout National Small Business Week, events will be focused on trade, lending for small businesses, veteran support, targeting millennial entrepreneurs, and an InnovateHER competition where entrepreneurs will pitch their products or services with a total of $30,000 in prize money being awarded.

The week will wrap-up with an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. where national award winners including the naming of this year’s Small Business Person of the Year will be recognized and awarded for their achievements.

Co-sponsors:

Every year, National Small Business Week is made possible thanks in part to the support of co-sponsors. “We are pleased to return as presenting sponsor and sustain our wonderful partnership with the SBA,” said Jenn Piepszak, CEO of Chase Business Banking. “Working together, we can better inform, educate and support owners and entrepreneurs across the country, so they can nurture their passion and grow their business.”

In addition to Chase, the below companies have joined forces with SBA to help celebrate National Small Business Week:

Presenting Sponsor
Chase

Lead Sponsor
SCORE

Gold Level Sponsors
Microsoft

Silver Level Sponsors
Colonial Life
Office Depot
YP
ADP
Visa
PayPal
The University of Texas at San Antonio

Bronze Level Sponsors
Facebook National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders
CT Corporation
Sam’s Club
Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families
PBS

Supporting Sponsors
American Booksellers Association
America’s SBDC
Anvil
Arcadia Power
Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship
Association for Enterprise Opportunity
Association of Women’s Business Centers
California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity
Cartridge World
City of Long Beach, NY
Direct Energy
Hawkins Law Offices, LLC
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City
International Council for Small Business
iStart Jax Inc.
Kiva
Latina Style Inc.
National Association of Development Companies
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Federation of Independent Business
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
National Women Business Owners Corporation
National Women’s Business Council
Pacific Community Ventures
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
Small Business Investor Alliance
Small Business Legislative Council
Small Business Majority
Sustainable Long Island
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
The U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Women Impacting Public Policy

Continuing Sponsors
Como
Indeed
Manta
Marriott
Raytheon

Events throughout the week will be live-streamed on SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/nsbw. Make sure to check in during the event for live social media engagement, using the hashtag #DreamSmallBiz. For additional information on National Small Business Week, please visit http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek

Small Business