SBA to Host 2024 Business Awards

   Several Pine Belt entrepreneurs will be celebrated by The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

Three of the 10 awardees are from the Pine Belt, and one from Smith County.   Wholly Fire Foods, owned by James and Doris Louis, is named the Minority Small Business of the Year. Amay Jewelry Designs, by Chryston A. Amay, will receive the Women-Owned Small Business of the Year award, along with co-owner Roberto Amay, and Cedric and Joan Anderson, of Taylorsville, will receive the Rural Small Business of the Year for C.J.’s Southern Seasonings.  The president and chief executive officer of Peoples Bank of Magee, Dennis Ammann, will be awarded as the Financial Services Champion.

   The recipient of the 2024 SBA Mississippi Small Businessperson of the Year is John Ruskey, founder and owner of Quapaw Canoe Company in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Quapaw Canoe Company provides adventures and expeditions by canoe, kayak, or paddle board on the Mississippi River. John started Quapaw Canoe Company in 1998 with one aluminum canoe. Quapaw currently has 12 employees, and its growth has led to the opening of additional locations.

Other award winners are:

Exporter of the Year

Vibe, LLC (DBA) Glo

Hagan Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Anna Barker, Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder, Starkville, MS

Young Entrepreneur of the Year                                               

Abbikadabbi’s Baking Co. LLC

Abigail Nichols, Owner, Olive Branch, MS

Minority Small Business Champion of the Year

Community Students Learning Center, Beulah M. Greer, Executive Director, Lexington, MS

Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year

Veterans Business Center Mississippi State University

Natalie Rhodes, Veterans Programs Coordinator, Starkville, MS

Veteran Small Business of the Year

Colemans Farm LLC, James E. Burch, Chief Executive Officer, Lexington, MS

TOP LENDER AWARDS

• Peoples Bank
• Community Bank 
• Bankfirst
• Trustmark National Bank
• BankPlus
• Southern Agcredit
• Renasant Bank
• Cadence Bank
• Three Rivers Local Development Company, Inc.
• Renaissance Community Loan Fund.

SBA Mississippi District Director Janita Stewart and community leaders will join together to congratulate Mississippi’s best at The Westin Jackson, 407 South Congress Street, Jackson, MS 39201.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.