Regional small businesses across Western Australia have an opportunity to win cash and a major promotional media package – with airtime on GWN7 – as part of this year’s Western Australian Regional Small Business Awards.

Now in their 12th year, applications are now open for the Awards, hosted by the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC). This project is supported by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.

To be eligible, businesses need to have won a corresponding award through a regional Chamber of Commerce or Small Business Centre awards program during 2014.

SBDC Chief Executive Officer David Eaton described the WA Regional Small Business Awards as a showcase of the State’s best regional small businesses, celebrating the success of small businesses from across the State.

“Since the Awards began in 2003, hundreds of small businesses have participated and been recognised for their contribution to their region and the State,” he said.

“Throughout the year, Regional Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Centres across WA hold their own award programs to recognise excellence in their respective regions or towns.

“Winners of these programs then have an opportunity to nominate for the WA Regional Small Business Awards and be acknowledged as the ‘best of the best’ in their field.

“The SBDC is encouraging all eligible small businesses across WA to get their applications in early for these prestigious regional small business awards.”

In 2014, there are seven award categories: home-based business, franchise business, Aboriginal business, business with 0-4 employees, business with 5-10 employees, business with 11-20 employees and small business achiever.

Each category winner receives a framed certificate and a $1,000 cash prize.

The 2014 Western Australian Regional Small Business of the Year will be selected from the winners of the seven award categories and receive a complete promotional media package, including $25,000 worth of airtime with sponsor GWN7 and a 30-second television advertisement produced by sponsor Lomax Media of Bunbury.

Regarded as the highlight of the small business calendar, the gala awards presentation will be held at the Hyatt Regency Perth on 14 November 2014.

Submissions to the Awards will only be accepted online – for more details, go to http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/awards. Applications close 5.00pm, 10 October 2014.