Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards program, an annual competition that recognizes successful small businesses and their supporters.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards program, a prestigious annual competition that recognizes successful small businesses and their supporters. The winners will be honored at the 7th annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on April 28, 2011. Last year, over 800 people attended the state’s premier awards program to honor the awardees.

Award categories for business owners include the Small Business Person of the Year, Family-Owned Business, Young Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial Success and Small Business Exporter. Champion of the year awards include Financial Services, Home-Based Business, Minority Small Business, Veteran Small Business, Woman in Business, Small Business Counselor and Small Business Journalist. Also included are awards for Innovation, Main Street USA Best Small Business and Government Contracting. Nominations for these awards will be accepted through November 2 at www.michigancelebrates.biz. Michigan 50 Companies to Watch will also be honored at the event. Sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation, the program recognizes the contributions, innovations and energy of diverse second-stage companies. Nominations are due Nov. 12 and can come from service providers (such as attorneys, bankers, accountants, public relations representatives, economic development professionals, etc.) or companies may self-nominate. Nominees will receive an e-mail with instructions to complete an online application by Dec. 3.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is a partnership of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Edward Lowe Foundation, Small Business Association of Michigan and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Michigan Celebrates Small Business is made possible with the generous support of PNC Bank, Clark Hill, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Accident Fund, Comcast Business Class, Comcast Spotlight and Dynamic Edge, Inc.

Media partners for Michigan Celebrates Small Business are MiBiz, Crain’s Detroit Business, Upper Peninsula Business Today, the Traverse City Business News, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly, Michigan Radio and WCMU Radio.