Each year, the MED Week Committee of WNC honors entrepreneurship in the region with the presentation of the following at the Annual Awards Luncheon:
WNC Minority Business Person of Year
An ethnic minority business owner from Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, Macon, Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Swain, Haywood or Jackson county is chosen based on their success as an entrepreneur and their involvement in the community. The nominee must own 51% or more of the company and have been in business at least two years.
Minority Business Category Awards
Nominees for Minority Business Person of the Year are also considered for recognition as an outstanding business in the following categories:
Retail
Restaurant
Manufacturing
Service
Construction
Wholesale
Lender of Year - Regional & National
Banks and other lending institutions serving WNC are selected based on their support of minority businesses through lending initatives, financial support of community events related to minority economic development, number of loans made and total dollars loaned to minority entrepreneurs and percentage of total loans made to minorities.
