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Prizes

National Winner(s) (4)

Winning videos will be shown during a Google+ Hangout hosted by SBA and the White House with SBA Administrator Karen Mills on May 23, 2012. The winners will be invited to participate in the Hangout with Administrator Mills. Winning videos will also be featured during National Small Business Week and may be used by the agency at other high-profile functions and events.

About the Challenge

Closed (view all dates)

In celebration of National Small Business Week 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration is looking for creative videos from small businesses that show how they have been assisted by an SBA program or service (counseling, training, guaranteed loans, government contracts, disaster recovery, etc.). The video contest will help showcase the amazing small businesses across the country that SBA works with on a regular basis.  These businesses are creating jobs, pillars in their communities and creating the next big products that will help keep America competitive.

Judges

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A Panel of Senior SBA Officials

U.S. Small Business Administration

Judging Criteria

Creativity and uniqueness
Innovative means of delivering the message
Audio and visual quality of the video
Content of the message

How to Enter

Review all contest rules and eligibility requirements.

Create an original video, 2 minutes or less in high-resolution format. Contest participants must answer the following questions within their video:

  • What is the name of your small business and where is it located (City/State)?
  • Which SBA program or service did you utilize?
  • What were you able to accomplish from the SBA program or service you utilized? For example, were you able to hire new employees, start your business, expand your operations, purchase equipment etc.?
  • What is the most rewarding part about starting or growing your small business?
  • How has the assistance benefited the local community?

Updated (5/11): The deadline to submit videos through Challenge.gov is extended to 5pm EDT on May 15, 2012. 

All videos must be submitted through Challenge.gov by (5pm EDT on May 11, 2012 - deadline extended, see above). Submissions will be accepted starting at 12pm EDT on April 16, 2012. Winners will be notified via e-mail and announced at a later date.  Questions can be posted in the Challenge.gov Forums or emailed to OpenGov@sba.gov.

Keep in mind...

*Videos must be educational, not promotional in nature (i.e., a commercial for the small business). Videos should tell a story.

*Videos must mention how the small business used at least one SBA program or service.

*The contest is open to small businesses in the United States and its territories including, but not limited to, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Small businesses must meet SBA's size standards to be eligible and must have used at least one SBA program or service, which include:

  • SBA Loan Programs (7a, 504, Microloan, etc.)
  • SBA Contracting Programs or Certifications (8a, HUBZone)
  • SBA Disaster Assistance
  • Participated in counseling or training with an SBA Resource Partner service such as SCORE, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), or U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs).
  • SBIC Portfolio Companies

Read the full contest rules.