Marianne Markowitz

As regional administrator for the Great Lakes Region for the U.S. Small Business Administration, I am proud to announce our federal government met its small business federal contracting goal for the first time in eight years, thanks to the SBA and President Obama's commitment to increasing small business contracting opportunities. In Fiscal Year 2013, our government awarded 23.39 percent in federal contracts to small businesses which is $83.1 billion of eligible contracting dollars according to SBA's Small Business Procurement Scorecard.

From encouraging hiring veterans to finding new opportunities to expand a business, National Small Business Week recognizes the best in America's entrepreneurs. Each year, since 1963, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding small business owners from across the nation.

This is the season of New Year's Resolutions. Whether it's deciding to join a gym or cut back on sweets, chances are you're making some resolutions for 2014.