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Executive's Small Business Awards
Beginning in 2025, OEOCE is the new producer of the Executive’s Small Business Awards.
Apply now for the 2025 King County Executive's Small Business Awards
Celebrate your impact! The King County Executive’s Small Business Awards honor outstanding small businesses that fuel our local economy, create jobs, strengthen our communities, and exemplify King County's values. If your business is making a difference, we want to hear from you. Submit your application today and be recognized among the best in King County.
Timeline
- Application Launch: July 3, 2025
- Application Closing Date: August 17, 2025
- Notification of Application Status: on or before August 31, 2025
- Awards Celebration and Announcement of Winners: October 1, 2025, 3 to 6pm at Washington State Convention Center Summit Building
Categories
- Small Business of the Year
- Exporting Small Business of the Year
- Rural Small Business of the Year
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year
- Women-Owned Small Business of the Year
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year
- Creative Economy Small Business of the Year
Qualifications
- Business is located within King County
- Under 50 employees
- In operation for at least 3 years
- Past winners are not eligible
Contact
King County Office of Economic Opportunity and Creative Economy
Susanо̄ Surface - ssurface@kingcounty.gov
Need the application in another language or format?
Free interpretation, translation, and effective communication support are available. Contact ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Amharic: ይህንን ዶኩሜንት በሌላ መልኩ ፈልገዋል? ነፃ የአስተርጓሚ፣ ትርጉም እና ውጤታማ የግንኙነት አገልግሎቶች ድጋፍ አለ። ይም የ ssurface@kingcounty.gov።
- Arabic: هل تحتاج إلى هذا المستند في لغة أو تنسيق مختلفين؟ يتوفر الدعم المجاني لخدمات الترجمة الفورية والترجمة التحريرية والتواصل الفعال. تواصل ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Traditional Chinese: 需要這份文件的其他語言或格式嗎？我們提供免費的口譯、翻譯和有效溝通支援。請或寄送電郵至 ssurface@kingcounty.gov。
- Simplified Chinese: 需要本文件的其他语言版本或格式版本？您可获取免费的口译、笔译，以及有效通信支持。请发送电子邮件至 ssurface@kingcounty.gov。
- Dari: آیا به این سند به زبان یا فارمت دیگر نیاز دارید؟ مترجم رایگان، ترجمه و حمایت ارتباطات موثر موجود است. لطفاً با ssurface@kingcounty.gov تماس بگیرید.
- Japanese: この書類を他の言語や別の形式で必要ですか？無料の通訳、翻訳、そして効果的なコミュニケーション支援をご利用いただけます。サポートをご希望の方は、 ssurface@kingcounty.govまでご連絡ください。
- Korean: 이 문서가 다른 언어나 형식으로 필요합니까? 무료 통역, 번역, 효과적인 통신 지원이 가능합니다. ssurface@kingcounty.gov로 연락하세요.
- Russian: Вам нужен этот документ на другом языке или в другом формате? К вашим услугам бесплатный устный и письменный перевод, а также поддержка эффективной коммуникации. Свяжитесь по номеру ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Somali: Ma u baahan tahay waraaqahan oo luuqad ama qaab kale ah? Turjubaad bilaash ah, turjubaan iyo taageerada xidhiidhka wax ku oolka ah ayaa la heli karaa. La xidhiidh ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Spanish: ¿Necesita este documento en otro idioma o formato? Tiene disponible ayuda gratuita para interpretación, traducción y comunicación efectiva. Escriba un correo electrónico a ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Tigrinya: እዚ ሰነድ ብኻልእ ቋንቋ ወይ ቅርጺ የድልየኩም? ነጻ ትርጉም ምሃብ፣ ትርጉምን ውጽኢታዊ ናይ ርክብ ደገፍን ኣሎ። ssurface@kingcounty.govርኸቡ።
- Tagalog: Kailangan mo ba ang dokumentong ito sa ibang wika o format? Available ang libreng interpretasyon, pagsasalin, at epektibong suporta sa komunikasyon. Makipag-ugnayan sa ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Ukrainian: Потрібен цей документ іншою мовою чи форматом? Доступні безкоштовний усний та письмовий переклад та ефективна комунікаційна підтримка. Контакт ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
- Vietnamese: Quý vị cần tài liệu này ở ngôn ngữ hoặc định dạng khác? Chúng tôi cung cấp miễn phí dịch vụ thông dịch, bản dịch và hỗ trợ giao tiếp hiệu quả. Liên hệ ssurface@kingcounty.gov.
Executive's Small Business Award categories
Small Business of the Year
The U.S. Census Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 71,070 non-farm firms with employees in King County during 2010, and 95% of these had 50 or fewer employees. The challenges to operating a small business are infinite and often daunting, but the collective contributions of small businesses are vital to the diversity and growth of the county's economy. On behalf of all small businesses throughout the county, this award is given to the small business that best exemplifies the tenacity, perspicacity, and audacity it takes to successfully operate a small business.
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 Survey of Business Owners showed that minority-owned businesses accounted for 21.3% of all non-farm U.S. businesses. King County's percentage of minority-owned businesses was over 13%. Given this significant ownership percentage, this award recognizes the minority-owned business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by minority-owned businesses in King County.
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 Survey of Business Owners showed that women-owned businesses accounted for 28.7% of all non-farm U.S. businesses. King County had the 14th highest percentage among all U.S. counties for women-owned businesses at 29%. Given this significant ownership percentage, this award recognizes the woman-owned business that has attained outstanding business achievement and exemplifies the significant contributions made by women-owned businesses in King County.
Exporting Small Business of the Year
Economies grow through trade, by exporting their products and services globally. This brings in income which allows wages to rise and the tax base for critical public infrastructure and services to grow. Consistent with the President's National Export Initiative to double our nation's exports in five years, this award recognizes the small business that has achieved significant increased international sales through existing and/or new international markets.
Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year
King County is a hotbed of innovation in the field of sustainability and has a rich history of environmental stewardship. This award recognizes the small business that has achieved excellence in the creation and implementation of sustainable business practices. Practices include waste and recycling programs, water stewardship, energy management, efficiency in the built environment, or any other significant effort designed to limit the way a business impacts our local environment.
Workforce Small Business of the Year
A skilled workforce is vital to the growth of businesses and our economy. This award recognizes the small business with outstanding practices in hiring, retaining, and developing the skills of its workers. Practices include on-the-job training or support for ongoing skill development; partnerships with other businesses, education institutions, community organizations or government agencies; internships, mentorships or other practices that allow young people to learn about and gain skills in the business/industry; or other practices that demonstrate effective and innovative hiring, retention and training.
Rural Small Business of the Year
The rural economy is an important link to the urban area and provides opportunities for residents to both live and work in the rural area. The King County Strategic Plan supports rural economic development that maintains the character of the rural area. This award recognizes the small business that has achieved excellence in one of the traditional rural industry clusters - agriculture, forestry, equine, home-based, or other.
Creative Economy Small Business of the Year
The creative businesses of King County make our region culturally vibrant and economically strong, while uplifting our quality of life. The award for Creative Economy Small Business of the Year recognizes the small business with outstanding achievement in the generation or production of art, film, music, design, media, architecture, fashion, advertising, or gaming, demonstrating agility and innovation in response to market need and contributing to the growth of the economy in our region.
Past ESBA winners from 2011 to 2023
Due to COVID-19, no Executive's Small Business Awards were given from 2020 through 2023.
Small Business of the Year - Intelligent Partnerships
- Finalist - Lumenomics
- Finalist – Notkin Mechanical Engineers
- Finalist – Square Peg Development / Construction?
Rural Small Business of the Year – Steel Wheel Farm
- Finalist – Black Fish Spirits Distillery
- Finalist - Rent-a-Ruminant LLC
- Finalist - The Grange
Exporting Small Business of the Year – Impact Bioenergy Inc. (now Chomp)
- Finalist – Breedt Production
- Finalist – JC Logistics
- Finalist – MacDonald Meat Company
Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Moonie Icy Tunes
- Finalist – Ballard Sheet Metal Works
- Finalist – Bob Oates Plumbing
- Finalist – Stillwater Massage
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Planled
- Finalist – Daramola Inc.
- Finalist – Drag and Drop Creative
- Finalist – Salus Architecture
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Project Corps
- Finalist – Anthro Tech
- Finalist – Rail Hop’n Brewing Company
- Finalist – Susan’s Green Cleaning
Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – Sustainable Business Consulting
- Finalist – Forest Concepts LLC
- Finalist – Johnson Barrow Inc
- Finalist – SBW Consulting Inc
Small Business of the Year - TomboyX
- Finalist - Alexandra Lozano Immigration Law PLLC
- Finalist - Cortona LLC
- Finalist - Dan the Sausageman
- Finalist - Repair Revolution
Rural Small Business of the Year - Reber Ranch
- Finalist - Eye of the Needle Winery
- Finalist - Productive Performance, Inc
- Finalist - Sidetrack Distillery
Exporting Small Business of the Year - Pier2 Marketing
- Finalist - Codeproof Technologies Inc
- Finalist - Whooshh Innovations
Workforce Development Small Business of the Year - Cognission Corporation (DBA Sponge)
- Finalist - Gardico, Inc
- Finalist - PowerScreen of Washington
- Finalist - Simma Restoration Group LLC
Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year - Concord Engineering
- Finalist - 2A
- Finalist - EHS-International, Inc
- Finalist - Warner Marketing, Inc
Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year - Triangle Associates
- Finalist - Ergosynch
- Finalist - Leading Retirement Solutions
- Finalist - Red Arrow Logistics
Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year - Green Cleaning Seattle – Otium-Maid Services™
- Finalist - Artisan Electric Inc
- Finalist - Friendly Earth International Inc
- Finalist - Mr. Pressure Wash
- Small Business of the Year – Odin Brewery
- Rural Small Business of the Year – Keep It Simple
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Industrial Revolution
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Falco Sult and Company
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – LDC, Inc.
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Evia
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – Pacific Rim Environmental
- Small Business of the Year – GardnerGlobal
- Rural Small Business of the Year – First Light Farm
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – KuKuRuZa Gourmet Popcorn
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Uyeta Landscape & Maintenance, Inc.
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Schemata Workshop
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Team Soapbox
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – 3R Technology
- Small Business of the Year – Chameleon Technologies
- Rural Small Business of the Year – Seattle Urban Farm Company
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Athena Marketing International (AMI)
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – A&R Solar
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Integrated Design Engineers LLC
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Asante Salon
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – OneEnergy Renewables
- Small Business of the Year – Fremont Brewing Company
- Rural Small Business of the Year – Krainick Dairy, LLC.
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Concut Inc.
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Community Attributes Inc.
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Global Venture
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Fyer-Knowles, Inc.
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – Cascadia Consulting Group
- Small Business of the Year – Keeney’s Office Supply
- Rural Small Business of the Year – Growing Things Farm
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Pacific Valley Foods
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – DRY Soda
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – TokuSaku Consulting
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Equinox Business Law Group PLLC
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – Green Canopy Homes
- Small Business of the Year – Easy Street Records
- Rural Small Business of the Year – The Root Connection
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Enprecis
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Kona Kai Coffee Company
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – General Microsystems, Inc.
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – Seattle Chocolates
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – MicroEnergy Credits
- Small Business of the Year – Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
- Rural Small Business of the Year – Rockridge Orchards and Cidery
- Exporting Small Business of the Year – Paula's Choice, Inc.
- Workforce Development Small Business of the Year – Seidelhuber Iron and Bronze Works
- Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year – Triple XXX Rootbeer
- Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – PRR Inc.
- Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year – General Biodiesel