The Small Business Administration (SBA) has revealed its list of co-sponsors and the schedule for its free Virtual Summit, set to start today.
The Virtual Summit is an annual two-day workshop during National Small Business Week where participants gain valuable access to lectures on business trends, access to educators and mentors, networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs, and more. The event kicks off the 60-year tradition of recognizing the nation’s best and brightest for their contributions to local communities and American commerce.
While the free event is hosted online, the organizers have arranged for the return of the in-person award ceremony, which has remained on virtual hiatus since 2019. The 2023 State Small Business Persons of the Year will recognize one entrepreneur from each state who “have given their all to achieve their American dream…” writes SBA administrator Isabella Guzman.
Co-sponsors at this year’s event include massive brands such as Visa, T-Mobile, Amazon, Google, and JPMorgan Chase, with all contributors presenting talks on the challenges facing small business owners and strategies for moving forward. Co-hosting this year’s event is the business mentoring platform SCORE, the largest network of entrepreneur-focused educators and coaches in the U.S.Â
The SBA is offering support on a never-before-seen scale as the post-pandemic small business economy booms. Guzman notes that the Virtual Summit comes “amidst a record-breaking 10.5 million people applying to start a new business under the Biden-Harris Administration” and expressed her excitement to “showcase our highly-impactful entrepreneurs who build prosperity in their communities while strengthening our nation’s global competitiveness.”
The Virtual Summit also arrives after a pandemic that saw entrepreneurs struggle through turbulent economic headwinds. “Together, American small businesses create a very large impact on our nation’s economy,” writes SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. “The past few years have challenged business owners like never before…we are celebrating the resilient spirit of American entrepreneurialism and providing timely education and resources to help ensure the continued vitality and success of our small businesses.
To attend the free digital event, visit this link from May 2, from 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET to May 3, 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET.
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