This year, the Chamber will host its 34th annual Small Business Award to help recognize our small business members and their impact on our local economy. The event, to be held May 6 at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, will honor the top five finalists in the W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award competition and will culminate with the announcement of the 2026 award recipient.

If you know a Springfield area for-profit small business with 50 or fewer employees organization-wide, nominate them (or your own business) for the 2026 Small Business Award! Nominated businesses must be locally owned and operated for-profit organizations and Chamber members in good standing.

Nominations may be made anonymously.

Chamber staff will contact nominated businesses with a short application to complete, which covers company history, response to challenges, innovative products or services, and community-oriented contributions. Nominated businesses do not need to disclose financial information or host site visits. 

The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 30.

Click here to see a list of previous Small Business Award honorees.

**Only one nomination is needed per company**