Skip to main content
close

KingCounty.gov is an official government website. Here's how you knowexpand_moreexpand_less

account_balance

Official government websites use .gov

Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.

Executive's Small Business Awards – 2025

Information about the 2025 Executive's Small Business Awards event, and the winning and finalist businesses of the year.

Apply now for the 2025 King County Executive's Small Business Awards 

Apply now

Executive Dow Constantine with the nominees and winners of the 2024 Executive’s Small Business Awards. Photo courtesy of King County FBOD.

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.

expand_less