The Governor’s Minority Business Awards recognize minority-owned for-profit businesses that contribute to the economic diversity and success of minority communities in Colorado. The awards honor micro, small, medium, and large businesses. An additional award is given to recognize a for-profit, non-minority-owned business that strongly supports the minority-owned business community in Colorado.
Awardees receive:
- one free Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) training of your choice
- one 30-second video promoted by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
- inclusion in a press release from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
- recognition at the Advance Colorado Procurement Expo
Businesses are awarded in 4 size categories (micro, small, medium and large) and across four regions in Colorado. The four regions are explained in the eligibility section.
This awards program is currently open for nominations. Please visit the nomination form to submit a business or to submit your own business.
Overview
Type: Awards
For: Minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses
Nominations due: August 31, 2022
Program dates: Annual
OEDIT division: Minority Business Office
You may nominate your business or someone else’s business. The business needs to:
- be 51% owned by a minority, woman, veteran, individual identifying as having a disability, and/or LGBTQIA+ individual (with the exception of the non-minority-owned award)
- be a Colorado-based business and/or have physical location in Colorado
- be in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
- have a history of revenue generation of at least 12 months
We recognize businesses by business size (number of employees) and location.
Size categories
Business sizes are defined as:
- microbusiness: 1 to 5 employees
- small business: 6 to 12 employees
- medium-sized business: 13 to 50 employees
- large business: 51 or more employees
Regions
Regions are defined by groups of counties (see map). The 4 regions are:
- Region 1: Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, Summit
- Region 2: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Cheyenne, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Kit Carson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma
- Region 3: Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Crowley, Huerfano, Fremont, Custer, Mineral, Conejos, Costilla, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Park, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache
- Region 4: Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel
This program is open for applications. Please visit our nomination form to complete the required information about your business or the business you are nominating. Nominations must be submitted by August 31, 2022.
Please sign up for the Minority Business Office newsletter to stay updated about the selected awardees.
The Minority Business Advisory Council reviews nominations and selects awardees. The council judges nominations on these questions:
- How does the for-profit business demonstrate diversity in its community? For example, hiring practices, diverse clientele, multiple languages, cultural competency training, diversity in marketing and advertising, etc.
- How effectively does the business engage with community resources, partners, and events?
- Does the business create and retain jobs in Colorado?
- How significantly does the company contribute back to its community?
Selected awardees will be announced at the 2022 virtual Advance Colorado Procurement Expo.
Past Winners
Sponsor
