While most days the team at the NW Indiana Small Business Development Center is advising and assisting small business owners and start-ups, E-Day is the day we celebrate them! The E-Day Entrepreneurial Excellence awards program is a NW Indiana region tradition that began in 1991.
Do you love a good story? This is a story-telling event. Recently, the highlight of the event has been the video profiles of our award recipients and their small businesses, telling their amazing stories.
Annually, the ISBDC and the E-Day committee receive nominations of outstanding small businesses and business leaders in various categories. Over 28 years, almost 200 small business owners and leaders have been recognized for how they have founded and grown their businesses, making investments in our region, creating jobs, and contributing to their communities.
Typically, a few hundred attend the event and it is supported by many regional sponsors. We are often told E-Day is uplifting and inspiring. Our stakeholders value it and want to be a part of it, and we certainly could not do it without our wonderful sponsors. We have especially appreciated the long-standing support from our regional banks and from NIPSCO. In fact, some have referred to E-Day as the “bankers’ prom”!
This year E-Day will continue to honor the distinguished entrepreneurs who help propel the Northwest Indiana economy and those who support them on their journeys. In fact, we think that in 2020 it’s more important than ever to share their stories and congratulate these small business owners who have shown resilience and creativity in the face of this year’s adversity.
The Class of 2020 will have recipients in these categories:
- Small Business Person of the Year
- Entrepreneurial Success
- Woman-Owned Small Business
- Small Business Journalist
- Minority-Owned Small Business
- Family-Owned Business
- Emerging Small Business
- Small Business Advocate
- Lifetime Achievement
E-Day 2020 will be on Thursday Nov. 12th, with the program provided both in-person and virtually. A first for this event, we look forward to having even more attendees than ever celebrate our small business award honorees, through the virtual format.
We are thrilled to also host the launch of NWI BizHub during the E-Day event program. So fitting that an engaging new entrepreneurial resource hub should have its premiere at the E-Day Entrepreneurial Excellence awards!
Pre-registration is required for this event for both virtual and in-person. The event will be held at Avalon Manor in Merrillville and lunch will be served for in-person attendees. We will take care to follow safety guidelines and social distancing to ensure all guests feel safe and comfortable. More info is at edayleaders.com.
Lorri L. Feldt
Regional Director, Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center
219-644-3515 | [email protected]
