The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center’s annual Entrepreneurial Excellence (E-Day) Awards has hit its 30-year milestone in 2021.

The nominations now are being accepted for the awards, which highlight the impact entrepreneurs and small business advocates have on the Region as well as their industries.

“Being an entrepreneur truly takes an unwavering passion and perseverance,” said Lorri Feldt, regional director of the NW-ISBDC. “We have seen how much our small business community can handle over the last year and a half, and that needs to be recognized more so than ever as we shift into a new way of doing business.”

Nominations will be accepted through Aug. 26. Nomination materials are available online at www.edayleaders.com.

Award categories include: small business person of the year, entrepreneurial success, small business exporter, young entrepreneur, minority-owned small business person, family-owned business, emerging small business and small business advocate.

Entrepreneurs with a three-year track record and growth potential in the seven-county Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center area of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Starke, Pulaski and Newton counties are eligible. The nomination process is open to the public.

Winners will be recognized on Thursday, Nov. 11. The event format will be in-person at the Avalon Manor in Hobart, which will be recorded and made available online.

“As our event lands on Veteran’s Day this year, we will take the opportunity to celebrate our veteran entrepreneurs,” Feldt said. “We look forward to sharing the stories of how our entrepreneurs are continuing to acclimate to the business world as it is today and how they are finding positivity in the changes that they have faced.”