Eligibility criteria and nomination requirements for small businesses and corporations are outlined below. Submissions for these awards are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on 03/27/2023. Nomination packages can be emailed to rspencer@mccno.com. Confirmation emails will be sent upon receipt of nomination packages.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Business must be operated in the state of Louisiana for the previous 3 calendar years prior to the nomination submission deadline and must be registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office;
  2. Business must be designated as “other than small” (i.e. large businesses) for its primary industry under the applicable SBA size standards;

Ineligible Corporations

The following individuals and corporations are NOT eligible for this award:

  1. Elected officials or entities where an elected official is a member or shareholder;
  2. Individuals or teams who own or operate a business defined as “small business” for its primary industry under the applicable Small Business Administration’s size standards; or
  3. Individuals or firms who are currently suspended or debarred by the Federal government.

Selection Considerations

  1. Going Concern — a substantiated history as an established business; including but not limited to expansion, exporting, addition of territories, or growth in square footage occupied;
  2. Increase in the number of employees — Increases over the three years must be in excess of growth in Gross Domestic Product as determined by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (www.bea.gov);
  3. Size Standard Determination – Sales and Net Worth for the three prior calendar years, this is, 2019, 2020, and 2021;
  4. Responsiveness to adversity — examples of problems faced in the business and the methods used to solve them;
  5. Contributions to community-oriented projects — evidence of support and/or initiation of programs that support the well-being and development of the local community, i.e., workforce development, economic development, education and youth development, policy and advocacy, equity and inclusion, etc.; and
  6. Contribution to the Small Business Community — evidence of support, mentor/protege, and/or joint venture that promotes the development of the local small business, i.e., workforce development, economic development, education, policy and advocacy, equity and inclusion, etc.

Nomination Package Requirements

  1. Morial Award Corporation of the Year Nomination Form
  2. Prior Year Annual Report
  3. Letter of Confirmation that the business is in “Good Standing” with the State of Louisiana Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service
  4. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions
  5. Letter of Recommendation from a community-based organization that supports small businesses and/or economic development in the state of Louisiana
  6. Other supporting documentation that may impact the nominee’s selection (limited to 10 pages)