Lansing, Mich– Want to show your support of Michigan small businesses? Nominate a successful, growing company for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award!

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Michigan Celebrates Small Business (MCSB) awards program, a prestigious annual competition that recognizes successful growing businesses and their supporters. The winners will be honored at the 19th annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business gala on May 2nd, 2023.

The deadline to submit nominations run through November 27th!

The awards program provides an opportunity for business owners and supporters of small businesses to nominate a company that is growing and making an impact in Michigan.

The nominations for the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch Award are open for second-stage companies, defined as having six to 99 full-time-equivalent employees and generating $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants. Additionally, the companies must be privately held and headquartered in Michigan.

“The Michigan Celebrates Awards Gala remains the largest celebration of Michigan’s small business community,” stated Jennifer Deamud, MCSB Board Chair and Chief Operating Officer at Kinexus Group. “As the organization continues to grow, our mission stays focused on championing small business success through collaborative networking, resource connection, and commemoration of the distinctive entrepreneurial spirit across our state.”

The Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize a previously awarded Michigan 50 Company to Watch. Two award categories will be offered for 2023.

· Great Place to Work | The Michigan 50 Great Place to Work Award recognizes a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient for increased contributions to its community and for fostering a creative, collaborative workplace culture to enhance performance and sustain a competitive advantage.

· Strategically Focused | The Michigan 50 Strategically Focused Award recognizes a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient that has strategically increased its sales since receiving the Michigan 50 designation to ensure continued sustainability in an ever-changing economy.

The Best Small Business Awardees are nominated by Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and SmartZones. These organizations are located across the state that provides support services to Michigan small businesses.

Each region of these various support organizations selects a company to be recognized as a Best Small Business Awardee for demonstrating a strong relationship with the organization as well as significant success as a company. You must be a PTAC, SBDC, or SmartZone to submit a Best Small Business Awardee.

The Michigan Celebrates Awards Gala additionally recognizes small business leaders in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in various categories. The SBA Award nominations are open now.

Michigan Celebrates is seeking companies known for their marketplace performance, innovation, philanthropy, and corporate culture to be nominated for the 2023 awards. Nominations can be made at MichiganCelebrates.org.

Nominations are due November 15 and can come from service providers, such as attorneys, bankers, accountants, public relations representatives, economic development professionals, etc. Companies may also apply directly. All nominees will receive an e-mail with instructions to complete an online application by November 28.

The six Founding Partners created an annual awards gala to recognize small businesses and second-stage companies. The founding organizations of Michigan Celebrates are as follows:

· Edward Lowe Foundation

· Michigan Business Network

· Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

· Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

· Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)

· U.S. Small Business Administration – Michigan District Office

The gala launched in 2005 and has become Michigan’s awards program for small businesses. There have been nearly 1,000 companies honored at MCSB over the past 18 years, which includes 800 second-stage companies recognized by a Michigan 50 Companies to Watch award.

About Michigan Celebrates Small Business
Michigan Celebrates Small Business is a collaboration of trusted statewide founding organizations that offer resources for small businesses. Since 2005, their awards gala has celebrated how small businesses positively impact our communities and state. MCSB is focused on supporting, connecting and celebrating small businesses in Michigan.

About Kinexus Group
Kinexus Group is an organization that invests its time and resources into inspiring positive economic change one individual, one business, and one community at a time. For more information, visit Kinexus.org, follow us on Twitter @KinexusGroup or “like” us on Facebook @KinexusGroup.

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