Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is looking for “America’s Top Small Business” of 2023. The awards program, hosted in partnership with CO—, the Chamber’s digital resource center for small businesses, celebrates America’s small business owners who are making a meaningful contribution to the economy and job creation and embody the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and initiative.

The opening of the applications was announced during today’s CO— Strategy Studio: Small Business Day event, which featured small business leaders and experts sharing insights and expertise on today’s most pressing topics for small business owners.

Ten small businesses will be named as semi-finalists for each of seven U.S. regions (see list below) and recognized at a local ceremony and across media. The highest-scoring business in each region will be named a regional finalist and go on to compete for the title of “America’s Top Small Business” and win a $25,000 cash prize. Small businesses will be evaluated on their answers to 10 questions about their business growth, contribution to the local economy, innovation, successful business strategies, and community engagement.

The seven regional finalists will receive a one-year paid membership to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and be featured on the CO— website, which serves 20,000 business owners per day and over six million people a year from across the U.S. and around the world. In October, the finalists will be celebrated at an award ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's historic headquarters in Washington, D.C. and America’s Top Small Business will be announced.

Eligible small business owners can apply for the awards online here through July 7, 2023.

“Small business owners across the country embody the values of America, including a strong work ethic, a commitment to innovation, and a spirit of service. Their entrepreneurship and resilience contribute immeasurably to our local communities and national economy,” said Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “In addition to serving small businesses through policy advocacy, convening entrepreneurs to strengthen their networks and share best practices, and providing valuable resources to help people start, run and grow their business, the Chamber is also proud to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments and inspire the next generation of America’s entrepreneurs.” 

The top small businesses will be chosen from the following regions:

Eastern Region

• Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington D.C.

Great Lakes Region

• Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania

Midwest Region

• Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin

Northwest Region

• Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

Southeastern Region

• Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Southwest & South Central Region

• Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Western Region

• Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah

The deadline for applications is Friday, July 7, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. There is no fee to apply. More information on contest rules, regulations, and eligibility can be found here.

How the U.S. Chamber Supports Small Business

America’s Top Small Business, formerly known as the Dream Big Awards, is part of the U.S. Chamber’s longstanding commitment to supporting and advocating for small businesses. We work every day to give small businesses a big voice in Washington, connecting entrepreneurs and federal officials and advocating for policies that help them grow rather than holding them back. Our Small Business Council is made up of 100 small business owners from across the country that steer our work in fighting for policies that keep Main Street businesses thriving and regularly visit Capitol Hill.

Since 2017, we have partnered with MetLife to survey small businesses on a quarterly basis for the Small Business Index, which provides valuable insights on current challenges and opportunities for small business that inform our advocacy in Congress. Through our small business platform CO—, which helps almost 20,000 businesses every day and had more than six million site visits last year alone, we are equipping small businesses with the tools and insights they need to ensure their own resilience in the face of any challenge. 

To celebrate National Small Business Week, CO— has curated a special collection of content here. Learn more about the U.S. Chamber's small business work here.

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About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.

They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.

About CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

CO— is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s digital platform for small business and is dedicated to helping business owners across the U.S. start, run, and grow successful companies. CO— provides timely and actionable information and resources for business owners at all stages of growth through expert content, exclusive interviews with business leaders, and virtual and in-person events.