[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24553-24554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9753]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Announcement of National Small Business Week Video Contest Under 
the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2011

AGENCY: Small Business Administration (SBA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In celebration of National Small Business Week 2012, the U.S. 
Small Business Administration (SBA) announces a video contest (the 
``Contest'') for small businesses to show how they have been assisted 
by an SBA program or service. This Federal Register notice is required 
under the Section 105 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2011.

DATES: The submission period for entries begins 12 p.m. EDT, April 16, 
2012, and ends 5 p.m. EDT, May 11, 2012. Winners will be announced 
during National Small Business Week 2012, unless the term of the 
Contest is extended by SBA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Morris, Office of 
Communications & Public Liaison, U.S. Small Business Administration, 
409 Third Street SW., Washington, DC 20416; Telephone (202) 205-7422; 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bac9cedfcad2dfd494d7d5c8c8d3c9fac9d8db94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5d6d1c0d5cdc0cb8bc8cad7d7ccd6e5d6c7c48bc2cad3">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Competition Details

    1. Subject of the Competition: In celebration of National Small 
Business Week 2012, the U.S. Small Business Administration is looking 
for creative videos from small businesses that show how they have been 
assisted by an SBA program or service, including, but not limited to, 
counseling, training, guaranteed loans, government contracts, and 
disaster recovery. The video contest will provide recognition to small 
businesses across the country that are utilizing SBA's programs and 
services to create jobs, serve as pillars in their communities, and to 
create the next big products that will help keep America competitive.

[[Page 24554]]

    2. Prize: Winning videos will be shown during a Google+ Hangout 
hosted by SBA and the White House with SBA Administrator Karen Mills on 
May 23, 2012. The winners will be invited to participate in the Hangout 
with Administrator Mills. Winning videos will also be featured during 
National Small Business Week 2012 and may be used by the agency at 
other high-profile Agency functions.
    3. Competition Rules:
    1. Eligibility to participate: The contest is open to small 
businesses in the United States and its territories, including but not 
limited to, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam. Small 
businesses must meet SBA's size standards as stated in 13 CFR 121, and 
must have used at least one SBA program or service, including but not 
limited to: SBA Loan Programs (7a, 504, Microloan, etc.); SBA 
Contracting Programs or Certifications (8(a), HUBZone); SBA Disaster 
Assistance; Participating in counseling or training with an SBA 
Resource Partner service such as SCORE, Small Business Development 
Centers (SBDCs), Women's Business Centers (WBCs), Veterans Business 
Outreach Centers (VBOCs), or U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs); 
or SBIC Portfolio Companies. Any videos developed with federal funding- 
either grant, contract, or loan proceeds--are not eligible to win. 
Federal employees and their immediate families, current SBA contractors 
and SBA grant recipients may enter the contest but are not eligible to 
win. ``Immediate family members'' include spouses, siblings, parents, 
children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as ``in-laws'', or 
by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, co-habitation or 
other familial extension, and any other persons residing at the same 
household location, whether or not related. The small business owner(s) 
must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old 
to enter and win.
    2. Process for participants to register: All Contest participants 
must enter the Competition through the Competition Web page on the 
Challenge.gov portal http://smallbizvid.challenge.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on 
May 11, 2012. Submissions will be accepted starting at 12 p.m. EDT on 
April 16, 2012. Contest participants should review all contest rules 
and eligibility requirements. Submissions must consist of an original 
video, 2 minutes or less in high-resolution format that answers the 
following questions within the video: ``What is the name of your small 
business and where is it located (City/State)?''; ``Which SBA program 
or service did you utilize?''; ``What were you able to accomplish from 
the SBA program or service you utilized? For example, were you able to 
hire new employees, start your business, expand your operations, 
purchase equipment etc.?''; ``What is the most rewarding part about 
starting or growing your small business?''; ``How has the assistance 
benefited the local community?''
    3. Basis on which the winners will be selected: All eligible videos 
will be judged by a panel of senior SBA officials on the following 
criteria: Inspirational nature of the message for potential small 
business owners; Creativity and uniqueness of video concept; use of SBA 
programs and/or services; and audio and visual quality of the video. 
Winners will be selected based on an overall score. All judging is in 
SBA's sole discretion and all decisions are final. SBA senior officials 
intend to select three winning videos.

    Authority: Public Law 111-358 (2011).

    Dated: April 18, 2012.
Fred Baldassaro,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Communications and Public Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2012-9753 Filed 4-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P


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