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 certified as a SE/Hudson firm by the State of Louisiana; certified as a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE); or be designated as a “small business” for its primary industry under the applicable Small Business Administration’s size standards.
  3. Business must have a verifiable minimum revenue of $125,000 for the previous tax year

Ineligible Small Businesses

The following individuals 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 “other than small” (i.e. large businesses) for its primary industry under the applicable SBA 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. Size Standard Determination – Sales and Net Worth for the three prior calendar years, this is, 2019, 2020 and 2021;
  3. Responsiveness to adversity — examples of problems faced in the business and the methods used to solve them; and
  4. 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.

Nomination Package Requirements

  1. Morial Award Small Business of the Year Nomination Form
  2. Prior year federal and state tax returns or a letter confirming that the prior year federal and state tax returns have been filed
  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. Signed Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions
  5. Other supporting documentation that may impact the nominee’s selection (limited to 10 pages)
  6. Letter of Recommendation from a community-based organization that supports small businesses and/or economic development in the state of Louisiana