AUGUSTA — The U.S. Small Business Administration recently presented its annual small business awards at the Augusta Civic Center. Eleven awards were presented to small business owners and small business champions from throughout Maine.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and recognizing those who work so hard to succeed and create new jobs is truly an honor,” said Maurice Dubé, SBA district director for Maine.

This year’s awardees included:

— Michael Cote, president and CEO of Look’s Gourmet Food Co. in Whiting, who received the Maine SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year Award.

— Howell Laboratories, Division of Shively Labs in Bridgton, received the Maine SBA’s Small Business Exporter Award.

— Kate and Steve Shaffer, of Black Dinah Chocolatiers on Isle Au Haut, who received the SBA’s Home-Based Business Champions Award.

— Harold Clossey, executive director of Sunrise County Economic Council, who received the SBA’s Financial Services Champion Award for the state, as well as the regional award for all of New England.

— Scott Robinett, IT manager of the Maine Small Business Development Centers in Portland, who received the Maine Veteran Small Business Champion Award.

— Key4Women (Sherry Brown, Susan Pope, Jane Harmon and Bonnie Pothier of Key Bank), who received the Maine Women in Business Champions Award.

— Pat Rice, SCORE volunteer of Veazie, who received the Maine Minority Business Champion Award.

District Director’s Awards were also presented to:

— Bangor Savings Bank for being the top lender in two SBA loan programs, as well as being the SBA’s overall top dollar volume lender in Maine.

— Granite State Economic Development Corp. for being the top performing 504 lender in Maine.

— Atlantic Regional FCU for being the top performing credit union in Maine.

— Coastal Enterprises, Inc. for being the top performing micro-lender in Maine.