Governor Kay Ivey Friday signed a proclamation Officially affecting Sunday, May 4, on Sunday, May 11, 2025, as a national week of small businesses in Alabama, celebrating the critical role played by small businesses in the conduct of the state economy and the support of job creation in every corner of the state.
“Small businesses are the engine that advances Alabama – feeding local economies, creating good jobs and strengthening communities in all corners of our state,” said Governor Ivey. “Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we are in a golden age for small American companies – and in Alabama.
Small companies in Alabama represent 99.4% of all state companies, employing 46.7% of the private sector's workforce. Over the past 25 years, employment in small businesses has increased by almost 10%. These companies also significantly contribute to trade, small companies in Alabama exporting more than $ 4.4 billion in goods per year.
“From the stores on the main street to family farms, small businesses are the backbone of the economy of the Alabama des Montagnes north, to the southern beaches, to the filter in the south-east and to the wooden land in the western part of the State, each company strengthens its communities and creates jobs,” said the National Federation of the National Federation of the Enterprise of the State, Elebash. “By investing in their success, small businesses guarantee a stronger Alabama to everyone.”
This year, the Small Business Administration of the United States recognized Kimberly and Larry Lewis, owners of business based in Huntsville, Projectxyz, Inc., as small businesses of the year in 2025 of Alabama.
“Projectxyz, Inc. is an excellent example of a small local business empowering the economy of the state of the Alabama,” said Janita R. Stewart, director of the SBA Alabama district (interim). “In accordance with the most recent profiles of small companies in SBA in SBA, more than 449,000 small businesses in Alabama contribute to the state economy, and business owners like Kimberly and Larry Lewis contribute to showing the way.
The additional SBA winners this year include:
- Small businesses belonging to rural Alabama of the year: Dulane Tolbert, CEO, Tolbert Insurance Agency, Inc., Oneonta
- Small businesses belonging to veterans in Alabama of the year: Sean Chappell, CEO, Southern Sun Laundry, Foley
- Small businesses belonging to women of the year of Alabama: Lori Purnell, CEO, Spencer Environmental Consultants, LLC, Birmingham
- Phoenix Prize for resumption after disaster – Exceptional contributions, volunteer: Pastor John E. Grayson, Gospel Tabernacle Church, Selma
All the winners have received the help of the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network, which provides advice and commercial resources throughout the state.
The proclamation published annual of Governor Ivey reaffirms the commitment of Alabama to advance the growth of small businesses and economic development on the level of the State.
