The Iowa District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named the city of Iowa City the recipient of its 2023 SBA Iowa Small Business Community of the Year Award. The award is presented in honor of the SBA’s annual National Small Business Week celebration, held the week of April 30-May 6 this year.

Iowa City was selected based on criteria including key programs and incentives implemented to attract and retain small businesses and leveraging community resources with other federal, state, county and local programs to benefit the small business community.

Jayne Armstrong, district director of the SBA’s Iowa District Office, said the city’s Better Together 2030 initiative is an example of the community’s “commitment to improving the overall environment and economy of the area.” “Spearheaded by the Iowa City Area Business Partnership, the Iowa City Area Development Group, Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District, Better Together 2030 builds upon the area’s recovery efforts after COVID-19 to create a more robust economy in which small businesses can thrive,” Armstrong said.

The SBA will present the award to Iowa City at the South of 6 Business District launch party on May 13. The public event will be held at the Pepperwood Plaza between Broadway Street and Keokuk Street from 2 to 5 p.m. with the award presented at approximately 2:45 p.m.