West Virginia businesses and entrepreneurs have been recognized for their efforts by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Administrator Linda McMahon recently released a list of winners throughout the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The national awards ceremony will be in Washington April 30-May 1.

“These small business owners define entrepreneurial spirit and best represent the 28 million small businesses that are the backbone and economic engine for today’s economy,” McMahon said.

West Virginia’s 2017 Small Business Person of the Year is Matthew Paul Knott, president and CEO of River Rider Family Adventure Resort in Harpers Ferry.

Other honorees include:

• Leah Heimbach, Healthcare Management Solutions LLC, Fairmont, 2017 8(a) Graduate of the Year;
• Justin Seibert, Direct Online Marketing, Wheeling, 2017 WV Small Business Exporter of the Year;
• Donald Riggenbach, Riggenbach Tile & Carpet, New Martinsville, 2017 WV Family-Owned Small Business of the Year;
• Chin Orih, Corporate Cleaning Services LLC, Morgantown, 2017 WV Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year;
• Elizabeth Yeager Cross, Yeager Design & Interiors, Scott Depot, 2017 WV Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year; Chad Ranson and John Roberts, Ranson Inspection Services LLC, Ripley, 2017 WV Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year;
• Delaina Kucish, Our Country Corner, Fairmont, 2017 West Virginia Encore Entrepreneur of the Year;
• Dakota Janowitz, DJ’s Firewood, Augusta, 2017 West Virginia Young Entrepreneur of the Year;
• Pat Ford, Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle, 2017 WV Small Business Champion of the Year;
• Huntington National Bank, provider of 67 loans for more than $17.9 million, West Virginia Lender of the Year; and
• First Microloan of West Virginia, providing 13 loans totaling $474,000, West Virginia Microlender of the Year.

The SBA’s West Virginia District Office will celebrate winners from the Mountain State during a luncheon May 3 in Fairmont. The event is by invitation only.