Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced this year's Small Business Person of the Year winners from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The winners include two bakeries, one in Connecticut and one in Maine.

A panel is currently reviewing all the packages and a national winner and two runners-up will be selected and announced at a future date.  The national winner will be recognized as the 2015 National Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration this year in Washington, D.C., May 8. 

"It is my pleasure and honor to announce the 54 winners.  Competition was extremely keen across the nation for these prestigious awards. I couldn't be any prouder than recognizing these outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners, they represent the backbone of our economy. Small businesses created nearly 2 million of the roughly 3 million private-sector jobs generated in 2014.  More than 7 million of the 11 million jobs created during our recovery have been generated by startups and small enterprises," said Contreras-Sweet.

Each year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized from May 4-8 with national events planned in Miami, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York and Washington, D.C.

2015 Small Business Person of the Year Winners

CONNECTICUT
Michael Smulders                                                                   
President
Garden of Light, Inc.
Dba Bakery on Main

MAINE
Heidi V. Neal
Owner
Loyal Biscuit Co.