At the Military Spouse Business Association, we think there is no better feeling in the world than giving a new or growing business the money they need to keep plowing ahead.
We are so excited to announce that the Military Spouse Business Association, along with its sister site, the Red, White & Blue Pages™ have officially kicked off the 2nd Annual Red, White & Blue Awards.
The Red, White, & Blue Awards for your business
The Red, White, & Blue Awards were created to recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of businesses run by Veterans and military family members, and seek to support MSBA’s continuing mission of supporting our military community entrepreneurs. Awards are divided into three categories:
1. Shiny Penny Award for businesses in operation for 2 years or less
2. Growth Through Excellence Award for businesses in the important growth stage that have been in operation for more than two but less than five years.
3. Community Heartbeat Award for businesses and non-profit organizations who make giving back to their military community a big part of how they do business.
Nominations closing soon!
Nominations for the awards opened on September 2 and will close on September 30th. Business owners are welcomed to nominate themselves, and any business that is at least 51% owned by a military family member or veteran, is eligible to participate. To read all the rules and nominate a business, go to the Red, White & Blue Pages ™ website here.
Nominees will be announced on our site with two rounds of voting and a judging panel review to determine the winners. Winners will be announced on December 12, 2014.
Last year, Rebecca Duran, owner of Peaknits, won the Active-Duty Family Owned Growth Through Excellence Award. Rebecca shared with MSBA that, “Not only have you guys given me an amazing opportunity, but it has given me the self confidence boost I needed to open my own shop!” Rebecca did open her shop in October and you can also find her here.
Amy Schofield, owner of Schofield Strategies, won the Active-Duty Family Owned Community Heartbeat award and grant last year. “I will be using the grant money to obtain additional resume writing credentialing next spring!! I am so excited!!!” she told us. Amy is now an official certified resume writer. You can check out Amy’s services on her website here.
MSBA was created to help encourage and support entrepreneurship as a viable career option for military spouses as they travel the world in support of their military service members. And with the military spouse unemployment rate almost three times higher than that of our civilian counterparts, we believe our grants and support programs are a vital asset in the support of self-employment as an alternative to standard employment.
So what are you waiting for? Go nominate a military spouse and/or Veteran business today!
Navy spouse Rikki Winters is the Operations Director for the Military Spouse Business Association. Rikki also worked in support of the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA). Rikki owns and operates her own business, All In One Desktops which incorporated in 2007.
