Gwinnett Startups, Emerging Entrepreneurs To Be Awarded During Small Business Week

GWINNETT COUNTY — Gwinnett County small business owners will be recognized Wednesday by the Gwinnett Chamber. The award categories will celebrate startups, emerging entrepreneurs and more.

“At the Gwinnett Chamber, small business is big business,” said Cally D’Angelo, senior director of Membership Services & Small Business Initiatives in an email. “Certainly not for the faint of heart, being a small business owner is a bold feat. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we celebrate those who are up to the challenge. The Small Business Awards does just that, by showcasing those that dare to start, sustain, and succeed and the community that supports them.”

The Gwinnett Chamber Small Business Awards showcase will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gas South Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, in Duluth. Tickets are $60 for chamber members and $65 for everyone else.

There are 10 award categories, including a launch award, which celebrates a startup, emerging entrepreneur, that showcases a young professional, and the founder award, which is for an established business owner.

D’Angelo also said they have awards that will focus on culture, minority-owned business and those who provide support to small businesses and more.

Nominees had to submit an application and were selected by a committee composed of local and national leaders in the small business space. From the scores, the top 10 finalists were identified in each award category. Winners will be unveiled Wednesday at the awards ceremony.

Also, during Gwinnett Small Business Week, November 1 – 5, business owners will have a platform to build their business, learn from industry experts and create connections. There will be a week of programs:

• Gwinnett County Procurement Program
• Certification Crash Courses (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
• Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
• Woman Owned Small Business (WOSM)
• Two networking programs (Digital Dialogue & GwinnettWorking)
• Small Business Awards

“Ninety-percent of our 2,200 member companies have 50 employees or less,” D’Angelo said. “As such, we have a robust portfolio of programs to support small businesses, including Small Business Week. The Gwinnett Chamber’s mission is to Champion Business.”