The UMD Center for Economic Development (CED) is seeking nominations for the 25th annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards, which will be presented during an April 26 luncheon at the DECC. Anyone who knows an entrepreneur deserving of such recognition is encouraged to nominate that person or business by Wednesday, Feb. 15, by filling out a simple form at umdced.com.
“It’s hard to believe that we’ve presented these awards for a quarter century, but it’s a reflection of all the talented risk takers we have in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin who dared to dream,” said UMD CED Director Elaine Hansen. “We encourage everyone who has thought about nominating an entrepreneur in the past to make this the year that they go to umdced.com and take five minutes to do so.”
Labo Awards are presented in the categories of micro-entrepreneur, emerging entrepreneur, established entrepreneur, mature entrepreneur, and environmentally-engaged entrepreneur. Eligible nominees must live or work in the Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St Louis, or in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
The 25th annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards, named after one of the region’s most successful and influential entrepreneurs, are presented by the UMD Center for Economic Development as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Week.