The New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition is accepting nominations for its 13th Annual Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards that celebrate the achievements and contributions that immigrant business owners make to the growth of the economy.
Awards will be made in six categories: innovation, growth, advocacy, nonprofit achievement, rising star and entrepreneur of the year. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 31.
Nominations may be submitted through the online portal here. Self-nominations are welcome.
The awards will be presented at the free Statewide Multicultural Business Expo at the Pines Manor in Edison on June 23.
Throughout New Jersey’s history, immigrant entrepreneurs have helped power the state’s economic growth and prosperity. In New Jersey, they have created iconic brands like Lipton Tea, Welch's Grape Juice, Ballantine beer, and Colgate-Palmolive. They also produced numerous inventions like the submarine, the transistor, instant coffee, Vitamin C, the chemical synthesis of penicillin, game theory, and prong-setting for gemstones to name a few.
According to a 2022 report by National Foundation for American Policy, a nonpartisan U.S. public policy research organization, immigrants have started more than half (319 of 582, or 55%) of America’s startup companies valued at $1 billion or more.
