The 50th annual National Small Business Week starts Monday and a group of Pennsylvania businesses, businesspeople and development centers are being cited for their contributions to the Commonwealth’s economy and their commitment to their local community and region.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) National Small Business Week Awards recognize small businesses on a variety of levels including growth of employees, increase in sales, sound financial performance, response to adversity and community contributions.
The big enchilada is Zeigler Bros of Gardners, which was named national exporter of the year, the top SBA award for exports. (See accompanying story.)
Elsewhere in the SBA’s Philadelphia district, the Widener University SBDC in Chester won accolades for excellence and innovation, also picking up a regional award covering Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC and West Virginia. Gresham's Chophouse in Hawley was named Eastern PA’s family business of the year and David Wise II, owner of G.S. Madison (owner two 1-800-GOT-Junk? franchises) and BOXAROO in Reading was named small businessperson of the year.
Across the state, Pittsburgh SBA district winners were: Clarion University SBDC, Guy Chemical Company of Somerset, exporter of the year, and Jonathan Miller of Dimples LLC in Ashville, which makes software to save printer ink and toner, as young entrepreneur of the year.
The Widener SBDC and Zeigler Brothers will be in Washington DC on June 21 to receive their awards.
Source: Pennsylvania SBDC
Writer: Elise Vider