Video: SBA To Celebrate Mississippi Small Business Person Of The Year

JACKSON, MS – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office is proud to announce that Mary Jennifer Russell, president and founder of Sugaree’s Bakery of New Albany, MS, has been named the 2017 SBA Mississippi Small Business Person of the Year.

Sugaree’s Bakery is a small batch bakery that since 1997 has been focusing on depth of flavor with its classic southern layer cakes.  This company’s aim is to make the richest, moistest homemade cakes available.  “We are proud of Mississippi’s Small Business Person of the Year and Small Business Champion Winners,” said Janita R. Stewart, SBA Mississippi District Director.  New Albany native Mary Jennifer Russell had a vision early on about this business.  What started out in her residence, through time grew exponentially into a booming business in her hometown.  Now, the business has expanded wherein she employs 35 people and bakes 1,000 cakes weekly which are sold on-line, retail, wholesale and for fundraising purposes.  “Sugaree’s and Mary Jennifer have been featured in Oprah Magazine, Southern Living, New York Times and the Huffington Post,” says Stewart, “and again, we are proud to name her our Small Business Person of the Year for 2017.”

The SBA Mississippi District Office will honor the Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Champions, Top Lenders and Top CDCs at an awards ceremony in early May 2017 during National Small Business Week.  Also to be recognized by SBA Mississippi, will be two individuals who have worked hard to enhance small business, economic development and jobs creation in Mississippi for decades.  They will be presented “lifetime achievement awards” during the ceremony.

“On the small business lending front, during federal fiscal year 2016, SBA lending was up slightly in Mississippi over the previous year by about six percent in numbers, significant for small businesses in our state.  We play a vital role in enabling small businesses and entrepreneurs to get the capital they need to start and grow their businesses, create jobs and build communities. This could not have happened without the participation of our host of in and out-of-state bank and non-bank lending partners and we look forward to recognizing our top lenders and top CDCs at the awards ceremony in May,” said Stewart.

Every year, SBA receives nominations from various categories including Small Business Person, Small Business Export, Young Entrepreneur, Generational Family-Owned Business, Minority Business Champion, Women Business Champion, Veterans Business Champion, Home-Based Business Champion, Financial Services Champion, Entrepreneurial Success Award, Small Business Journalist, 8(a) Graduate Award, and Phoenix Awards.