For more than 50 years, National Small Business Week has recognized the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

This year, Small Business Week will be celebrated during the week of May 5-11. Events sponsored by the SBA and SCORE include a hackathon, the presentation of national awards, and a Twitter chat.

Locally, NaperLaunch will commemorate Small Business Week with a series of educational workshops intended for small business owners or managers. This year’s lineup includes:

Scott Palmer, former Shark Tank contestant and COO of Spikeball, Inc.

Cybersecurity expert Brian Berglund, CTO of Armarius Software

An interactive workshop on Instagram Marketing, presented by NPL’s Lindsay Harmon

Bob Koch, founder of e-commerce company Quiver Global, Inc.

The week concludes with the NaperLaunch Small Business Showcase and the finals of the 2nd Annual Business Plan and Pitch Competition, both on Saturday, May 11 at the Nichols Library.

At the Small Business Showcase, participating members of NaperLaunch will have the opportunity to share information about their businesses with members of the local community. NaperLaunch members may reserve a table to display information about their business during the Business Showcase.

During the Business Plan and Pitch Competition, three finalists selected from preliminary rounds will pitch their business plan publicly to be judged by a panel of experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and angel investors. The winning entrepreneur will receive a $3,300 prize.

For more information, visit the NaperLaunch website.