WASHINGTON – Small Business Person of the Year winners from 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam will here in April to mark the annual celebration of National Small Business Week during SBA Expo '05. One of them will be selected as National Small Business Person of the Year. The announcement will take place at the SBA Expo '05 held April 26-28, 2005 at the Hilton Washington Hotel. The winners represent a diverse cross-section of American small businesses from building contractors to restaurateurs, from motorcycle dealerships to hybrid vegetable producers. The event also features a special awards ceremony for government procurement winners, Women in Business, Small Business Advocates, Phoenix Awards, and the SBA's Hall of Fame, which recognizes successful companies that once were small and now are large, and got their start with SBA assistance. Other special events include a small business expo with nearly 200 exhibitors; a business matchmaking event; business seminars; a town hall meeting and award ceremonies honoring the nation's top entrepreneurs. Other highlights will include notable speakers and business industry leaders from trade associations, and local and federal governments, speaking on issues of vital interest to the small business community. Business owners, business organizations, other individuals and the news media can register for SBA Expo '05 events online at www.sba.gov/expo.