The Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the City of Iowa City as the recipient of its 2023 SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year Award.
The award is presented in honor of SBA’s annual National Small Business Week celebration. It highlights a community’s efforts to support local small businesses. The City of Iowa City was selected by the SBA’s Iowa District Office based on the following criteria:
- Key programs and incentives implemented to attract and retain small businesses.
- Leveraging of community resources with other federal, state, county, and local programs to benefit the small business community.
- Examples of how the community directly contributed to the success of local small businesses.
“Iowa City is committed to providing opportunities to start, grow and expand small businesses,” Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office, said in a release. “Its ongoing support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including the South of 6 Business District, strengthens its attraction as a small business friendly community.”
She highlighted the Better Together 2030 initiative as an example of Iowa City’s commitment to improving the overall environment and economy of the area.
“Spearheaded by the Iowa City Area Business Partnership, the Iowa City Area Development Group, Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District, Better Together 2030 builds upon the area’s recovery efforts after COVID-19 to create a more robust economy in which small businesses can thrive,” Ms. Armstrong said.
Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague said in the release, “Iowa City is delighted to receive this honor from the SBA, which affirms what we have been focused on for years – supporting our awesome and amazing business community.”
The SBA will present the award to Iowa City at the South of 6 Business District launch party on Saturday, May 13. The event will be held at the Pepperwood Plaza between Broadway and Keokuk streets from 2-5 p.m. The presentation of the SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year Award will take place at 2:45 p.m.
