Washington, D.C. – The SCORE Foundation has chosen U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, as the recipient of their 2013 Senate Small Business Champion Award.  This award is presented by SCORE annually and honors exceptional advocacy and action in the Senate on behalf of small businesses.

“As a small business owner himself and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Risch is a true advocate for small business and an active supporter of SCORE,” said Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE.  “He works tirelessly to help create greater opportunities for small businesses to be successful and contribute to the success of our country and its economy.  The SCORE Foundation is honored to recognize Sen. Risch as its Senate Small Business Champion.”

 “I am deeply appreciative of this recognition from SCORE, a superb organization known for its commitment and dedication to serving our nation’s small businesses,” said Risch. “As the Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, I am proud to be a champion for entrepreneurs and am committed to ensuring that small businesses are well equipped to succeed in today’s economy.”

SCORE is a nonprofit association which works to connect 13,000+ volunteer business counselors to entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the U.S.  Supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE relies on federal resources to organize counselors, develop new strategies to reach more small businesses through technology, and maximize the impact of their program. Risch requested $9.1 million for SCORE in Fiscal Year 2014, an increase of $2.1 million over the Fiscal Year 2013 funding level, to be offset by cuts in less effective programs. 

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