Michigan Celebrates Small Business recognizes small businesses in all industries whose growth supports Michigan’s economy. Together with our founders, we established a variety of awards to honor the many different ways that small businesses demonstrate excellence across the state.

The 2024 Michigan Celebrates Small Business Awards Gala, recently took place in East Lansing at the Breslin Center of MSU. 

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch

The Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recognizes 50 companies that are high potential, second-stage companies in Michigan. After submitting a nomination, the company will be notified to complete an application.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for selection as one of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch, the enterprise must meet the following for the year ending 2023.

• Be a privately held, commercial enterprise that has not received the award in the past (not a nonprofit, not publicly traded, not a subsidiary or division of another company).
• Be past the startup stage and facing issues of growth, not survival.
• Employ 6-99 full-time equivalent W-2 employees (including the owner).
• Have between $750,000 and $50M in annual revenue or working capital from either investments or grants.
• Be headquartered in Michigan.
• Demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on:
  • Employee or sales growth.
  • Sustainable competitive advantage.
  • Other notable successes. 

Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Awards

The MCSB awardee alumni community is more than 900 companies strong and grows every year. This community represents a substantial amount of the vitality that is foundational to the Michigan economy. MCSB recognizes two previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch awardees each year that best demonstrate the continued success of their alumni community.

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. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:

• Be a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient, and have not received this award.
• Be headquartered in Michigan.
• Have increased the number of full­-time equivalent W-2 employees since company received the Michigan 50 award.
• Have at least $1.25 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.
• Have significantly contributed to their community: number of volunteer hours devoted to community organization/projects, financial support to families in need or non­profits, advocate for solutions to root cause problems, etc.
• Demonstrate the intention of continued social responsibility.
• Demonstrate a track record of a creative, collaborative workplace culture.

Strategically Focused Award

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. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:

• Be a previous Michigan 50 Companies to Watch recipient, and have not received this award.
• Be headquartered in Michigan.
• Have increased the number of full­-time equivalent W-2 employees since company received the Michigan 50 award.
• Have at least $1.25 million in annual revenue or working capital from investors or grants.
• Demonstrate how they have been strategic in diversifying their products or services to stay relevant in the every changing economy.
• Be able to show sales growth in terms of revenue or sales receipt numbers.
• Demonstrate how you will stay at the higher sales levels. 

Veteran Owned Small Business Award

The Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year is a business with at least a 51% ownership share held by a military veteran with a minimum of a “general discharge,” active-duty service member eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists and National Guard members. Proof of service (DD214, NGB-22, or other official proof of service must be submitted before award can be presented). To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following for the year ending 2023:

• Staying power, a history as an established business
• Demonstrate stable number of employees
• Financially stable
• Provide employment opportunities for members of the military community
• Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth
• Have a positive company culture where employees are valued
• Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects
• Voluntary efforts to support veterans directly or issues affecting veterans, including veteran-owned businesses, families of Veterans within the community 

Minority-Owned Small Business Award

The Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year is a Michigan business at least 51% owned and run on a daily basis by a member (or collection of members) of four ethnic or racial groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following criteria:

• Staying power, a history as an established business
• Demonstrate stable number of employees
• Financially stable
• Provide employment opportunities for members of the minority community
• Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth
• Have a positive company culture where employees are valued
• Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects
• Voluntary efforts to support minority groups directly or issues affecting minority groups, including minority-owned businesses, minority families within the community 

Women-Owned Small Business Award

The Women-Owned Small Business of the Year is a Michigan business at least 51% owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. Women must be involved in managing the day-to-day operations and making long-term decisions for the business. To be considered for this award, the company must meet the following criteria:

• Staying power, a history as an established business;
• Demonstrate stable number of employees;
• Financially stable;
• Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and growth;
• Have a positive company culture where employees are valued;
• Community engagement, including contributions and volunteerism to aid community-oriented projects; and
• Voluntary efforts to support women directly or issues affecting women, including women-owned businesses within the community. 

Best Small Business Awardees

APEX Accelerators, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and SmartZones are organizations located across the state that provide 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 APEX Accelerator, SBDC or SmartZone to submit a Best Small Business Awardee, and each APEX Accelerator, SBDC or SmartZone may only submit one company to be recognized.

SBDC Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated growth as a small business
• Embodiment of the American entrepreneurial spirit
• Strength of the relationship with the SBDC

APEX Accelerator Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated growth through government contracts
• Contributions to the success of the Michigan economy
• Strength of the relationship with the APEX Accelerator

SmartZone Best Small Business Awardees should be selected based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated growth through technology commercialization
• Success with innovation
• Strength of the relationship with the SmartZone