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.
Minority Business Office partners and donors honor the awardees at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver.
Awardees receive:
- one free Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) training of your choice
- one 30-second video promotion provided 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
- two free mentorship sessions with a prominent business leader from your industry
- five hours of free marketing consulting and strategy development, including analyzing marketing communications, branding, search engine optimization strategy, social media promotion, advertising tactics, website, graphic design, competition, price structure, growth plans
- travel reimbursement to awards ceremony of up to $500 (upon request)
Businesses are awarded in four size categories (micro, small, medium and large) and across four regions in Colorado. The four regions are explained in the eligibility section.
Overview
Type: Awards
For: Minority, women and veteran-owned businesses
Event: Every spring
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, disabled and/or LGBTQ 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 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 four 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
We are not accepting nominations right now. Please sign up for the Minority Business Office newsletter to stay updated about the nominations.
Nominations are open every March and close at the end of April. You will need to complete the nomination form for the business you are nominating or for yourself.
The Minority Business Advisory Council reviews nominations and selects finalists in May. Decisions are announced in June. 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?
Past Winners
Sponsor
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