Chamber seeks Small Business of the Year Nominations

MT. PLEASANT — As National Small Business Week approaches, Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance seeks nominations for the 2023 Small Business of the Year.

According to the chamber, “Small businesses are a key component to making Mount Pleasant and all of Henry County a great place to live and work.”

When considering nominating a small business, the chamber gives the following as necessary criteria:

Must be a Mount Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce member.

Must be a for-profit entity.

Must have a primary location in Henry County.

Must have less than 50 employees.

Must have been in business for a minimum of two years.

“Do you know an outstanding business that has really made an impact in Henry County over the course of the last year?” the chamber nomination form asks. “Is there a specific Chamber Member that comes to mind when we say ‘outstanding’? You should nominate them for Small Business of the Year!”

Anyone can nominate a small business for this honor by filling out a simple questionnaire which includes a section to lay out exactly what makes a specific business a standout over the last 18 months.

The chamber will accept nominations through their website, MountPleasantIowa.org, through Friday, April 7, at 4 p.m.

They will announce the winning nomination at the Small Business of the Year Awards Breakfast near the end of National Small Business Week on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 a.m.

Last year, the chamber named Brad Holtkamp Automotive as Small Business of the Year at the breakfast and honored four other small businesses nominations, as well.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Isabella Casillaas Guxman, the annual tradition of Small Business week will take place April 30-May 6.

“National Small Business Week celebrates the resilience, innovation, and economic power of America’s small businesses and innovative start-ups,” Guzman said in a news release. “Amidst a record-breaking 10.5 million people applying to start a new business under the Biden-Harris Administration, I’m thrilled to showcase our highly impactful entrepreneurs who build prosperity in their communities while strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness.”