Welcome Remarks by Administrator Steve Preston

The U.S. Small Business Administration is pleased to announce the next National Small Business Week May 18-22, 2009.  Since 1963, every President has declared National Small Business Week to formally recognize the important role of America’s small business community.
Meet Our 2008 Award Winners:
Winner Profiles | Award Categories

Thanks to the participation of our sponsors, speakers, and attendees, the 2008 National Small Business Week was a great success.

Next year’s National Small Business Week is scheduled for May 18th to 22nd, 2009. We’ll be posting schedule information here as soon as it becomes available, so check back often. In the meantime, see the highlights from 2008 by visiting our highlights page or downloading the complete program guide.

Download the 2008 Event Program Guide

Opening Reception and Presentation of the Entrepreneurial Development Awards

Monday, April 21, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

U.S Department of State, Washington, DC

Diplomatic Reception Rooms

Invitation Only
This event will serve as a networking reception in one of the more extraordinary venues in Washington, DC. SBA’s resource partners will be honored at this event for their unrelenting dedication to entrepreneurial development nationwide.

Complimentary bus transportation from the Mandarin Oriental to the U.S. Department of State will be provided to all invited guests beginning at 5pm on April 21. Buses will arrive at the Maine Street Entrance of the Mandarin Oriental to transport participants to the Reception at 5:00 pm.  The last bus will leave at 5:30 pm.  Only those registered for the event will be able to board the buses.  Buses will depart from the U.S. Department of State at 8:00 pm.

When you arrive at the Department of State, proceed to enter the building from the “C” Street entrance.   On the left hand side of the entrance there is a blue awning labeled “Visitors Entrance”.   Please proceed to that entrance, and you will be directed through security.  Please be sure to have the government issued identification that you provided the information for during the registration process as well as your SBW Credentials.  Once cleared through security, you will be allowed to enter the building through the main lobby.  SBA representatives will be in the lobby to conduct guest check-ins and guide you to the Ben Franklin Room.

Please be aware that the State Department is very strict on the personal belongings that guest will allow in the Ben Franklin Room.   They strictly prohibit jackets, bags and umbrellas.  The only personal item allowed in the Ben Franklin Room is a small ladies purse and a personal camera.  As such, we ask that you be cautious in what you bring with you to the event.  If you choose to bring prohibited personal belongings, you will be asked to leave them at the Coat Check. 

Confirmed Speakers

  • Anoop Prakash, Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development, Small Business Administration
  • Steve C. Preston, Administrator, Small Business Administration

Event Co-Sponsors

Webcast Events:

Cisco is proud to co-sponsor the web casting and web archiving of National Small Business Week and expand the human network of our small business customers and partners.

All the 2008 webcast events have been archived. Visit our 2008 Highlights page for links to the archive for each event»