The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program/Small Business Ombudsman (SBEAP/SBO) National Steering Committee (NSC) Awards are the States’ premier awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental leadership among small businesses and small business assistance providers. Nominations were accepted through May and awardees were notified in late June. Due to COVID, awards were mailed to awardees and photos of awardees with new releases are in process. For that reason, this webpage is slowly being populated with approved photos and press releases.
These awards recognize small businesses, SBEAP/SBO programs and individuals, trade associations and other business assistance providers who have made significant contributions to protecting the environment. The awards program is sponsored by the SBEAP/SBO NSC in partnership with U.S. EPA Asbestos and Small Business Office.
2020 Awards have been presented in each of the following categories:
Colorado program receives 2020 Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Excellence Award: This award category recognizes accomplishments of a Small Business Environmental Assistance Program nationwide in the areas of compliance assistance, sustainability, advocacy and collaboration. Colorado was selected for their leadership and outstanding efforts in support of SBEAP/SBO, from hosting the 2017 Annual SBEAP/SBO Training, to sharing information on their brewery sustainability initiative, as well as Kaitlin Urso’s experience with sustainability and air quality issues related to the cannabis industry. Press release
Pictured above: Kaitlin Urso, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Andersen Products, based in Haw River, NC, was selected for the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award: This award category recognizes the accomplishments of a Small Business nationwide in the areas of compliance, sustainability, advocacy and collaboration. Andersen Products was recognized for working with the NC SBEAP on permitting assistance for their new facility and also in participation as a small entity on a Small Business Advocacy Review Panel (SBAR) with the US Small Business Administration (SBA). Press release
Gate 7, LLC, located in Greencastle, PA, was selected for the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award: This award category recognizes the accomplishments of a Small Business nationwide in the areas of compliance, sustainability, advocacy and collaboration. Gate 7 worked with Pennsylvania EMAP to assess their environmental impacts in their effort to gain ISO 14001 certification.
Pictured above: Clare Reay, Vice President of Gate 7 LLC.
Neville Welding Inc., from Kingman, KS, was selected for the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award: This award category recognizes the accomplishments of a Small Business nationwide in the areas of compliance, sustainability, advocacy and collaboration. Neville Welding was recognized for working with the Kansas SBEAP on air and hazardous waste compliance and for implementing recommendations that included replacing its solvent with a substitute solvent that reduced the company’s volatile organic compound and hazardous air pollutants. Press release
Pictured above: Dennis Neville, Vice President; Jill Neville, Secretary/Treasurer; Marvin Neville, President.
Glorianna Corman, KPA Consulting, was selected for 2020 Business Assistance Providers Environmental Leadership Award: This award category showcases the accomplishments of a business assistance provider (e.g., a trade association, Chamber of Commerce, other partner organization, etc.) that has worked with a local/state/territory/national SBO/SBEAP in the areas of compliance assistance, pollution prevention, sustainability, and information transfer. Ms Corman has invited and collaborated with Ohio’s OCAPP to present to professional organizations, including getting environmental topics on the agenda at the annual Safety Congress, has reviewed and helped disseminate several OCAPP publications, and has promoted OCAPP’s services to thousands of Ohio’s small businesses over the past decade. Recently, Glorianna was appointed as a member on OCAPP’s CAP. Press release
Pictured above: Glorianna L. Corman, KPA EHS Consultant.
2021 Award Nominations: Award nominations are expected to open by February 2021 and will be presented in mid-2021 at the Annual Training.
Eligibility: Nominations will be accepted from individuals, organizations, institutions or businesses. Award recipients from the previous year are ineligible for awards and cannot self-nominate for their category this year, though 2020 nominees that were not selected for an award may resubmit their nomination.
You may nominate yourself as well as any individual, institution, or organization that you believe is worthy of recognition. In addition, all applicants must:
- Be located in the United States and territories;
- Be active within the past year, and;
- Agree to have their environmental performance shared with others through a written description to appear in the awards program, press materials and on the National SBEAP website.
Thanks to our Awards Committee Chair, Renee Bashel of WI. contact her at Renee.Bashel@wisconsin.gov.