BA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the National Small Business Week (NSBW) 2024 Award Winners including Nebraska’s Small Business Person of the Year and other business owners, leading partners, and advocates who embody the grit and determination that power our nation’s economy and ensure disaster-impacted communities can recover. This year’s NSBW will take place April 28-May 4, 2024.
“Our 2024 National Small Business Week award winners exemplify excellence, innovation, and commitment, and the SBA is proud to showcase their incredible achievements and impact on their communities and our economy,” said Administrator Guzman. “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, more Americans than ever before are pursuing the American dream of business ownership and able to access more opportunities, with historic investments in communities across America in local infrastructure, broadband, manufacturing, innovation, and clean energy. National Small Business Week is the nation’s opportunity to lift up the amazing entrepreneurs, small business advocates, local partners, advisors, lenders, and investors who support America’s entrepreneurial spirt and the historic Biden-Harris Small Business Boom.”
Nebraska’s Small Business Person of the Year is Michael Moravec, PT, DPT, OCS, owner of Bluffs Physical Therapy, a physical therapy clinic in Scottsbluff.
In 2018, Michael worked with U.S. Small Business Administration resource partner, Scottsbluff Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), to help him form a business entity with a business plan and financial projections. Michael obtained funding and opened a small rental space with one employee. Quickly growing in clients and staff, Michael contacted the NBDC again in 2019 to assist with financial projections to construct a larger building.
The 2020 COVID pandemic necessitated social distancing restrictions, reducing staff to one. As restrictions were lifted, Michael returned his employees one at a time. Fortunately, Michael’s construction on the new building was nearing completion. Michael officially moved his company to a larger building, which is currently staffed with 24 employees.
Michael serves on multiple community boards, volunteers, and donates yearly to various organizations, schools, and other programs.
The NSBW Award Ceremonies will take place April 28 – 29, 2024 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C., where Administrator Guzman will recognize the national award winners and individual state winners, and also announce the top honor of National Small Business Person of the Year from among the individual state winners. Administrator Guzman will then launch a roadshow tour from April 30 – May 3, 2024, which will bring her to Manchester, N.H., Milwaukee, Wis., Denver, Colo., and Billings, Mont., where will be joined by local leaders to honor award-winning small businesses and discuss SBA initiatives and opportunities for the small business community. The week-long National Small Business Week celebration will also feature a virtual summit co-hosted by SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses.