Minnesota Company Recognized as 2014 Small Business Exporter of the Year at National Small Business Week

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Baby Elephant Ears, Inc., a Cambridge, Minn.-based small business, today was honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Exporter of the Year at the 2014 National Small Business Week.

The annual event is hosted by the SBA to recognize the nation's top small businesses, entrepreneurs, small business advocates and champions. This year, NSBW celebrations were held in four different cities: San Francisco, Kansas City, Boston, and Washington, D.C., where the event culminated today with the presentation of this and other awards, including the Small Business Person of the Year award.

The Small Business Exporter of the Year award recognizes the accomplishments of a small company that has shown creative strategies in developing international markets, increased export sales and profits, or found creative solutions to business challenges in exporting, among other criteria.

Founded by Alicia Overby in 2009 with funds borrowed from her husband Scott's 401K, Baby Elephant Ears today boasts annual sales of more than $1.3 million and is selling its products in more than 850 locations in the U.S. and over a dozen countries.

In addition to Alicia's commitment and hard work, SBA assistance was instrumental to the success of Baby Elephant Ears. The company benefited from SBDC counseling and training and two SBA loans, as well as additional financing through the SBA STEP pilot program, which offers grants to states to promote export activities.

The award was presented at a luncheon ceremony during the activities on the last day of National Small Business Week, in Washington, D.C. Also presented were the Small Business Person of the Year awards for each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, and the National Small Business Person of the Year award.

For additional information on National Small Business Week, please visit http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek

Contact: David Hall (202) 205-6697

Release Number: 14-31
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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