SBA Awards Keith Tillage

NEW ORLEANS, The 2012 “District Minority Small Business Person of the Year” was awarded to Keith Tillage, Owner of Tillage Construction LLC.

Each year the winner of the SBA “District Minority Small Business Person of the Year” award is selected based on several criteria, including the company’s overall financial strength, sales and profit growth, growth in number of employees, demonstrated ability to overcome business obstacles, and dedicated involvement in community and charitable events. This year, in conjunction with Minority Enterprise Development Week, the Louisiana 8(a) business retreat was held in New Orleans where the award was presented.  With the theme of “Job Creation in America: Build it Here — Sell it Everywhere”, the retreat featured Mr. Tillage, who was also selected to serve on a panel leading discussions on motivation and empowerment to retreat participants.

“This award is truly an honor in recognition of our commitment to service, quality and a testament to hard work”; said Mr. Tillage but added “the true measure of success is never in acclaim or awards but in the contribution you make to society”. Tillage Construction LLC’s success has been widely lauded; having been named HUBZONE small business of the year in 2007, received the SBA excellence award in 2009, named one of America’s 5000 fastest-growing companies in 2011 by Inc. magazine, and was a finalist for the 2012 Black Enterprise Small Business of the Year award. “Mr. Tillage has proven himself to be an exceptional business leader and has developed his firm into an exceptional contracting services provider, becoming one of the SBA’s best success stories”; said Mike Ricks, District Director, SBA Louisiana District Office. The national SBA Deputy Associate Administrator, Eugene Cornelius, Jr. and the Louisiana District Supervisory Business Development Specialist, Jo Ann Lawrence were on hand to make the presentation at the award ceremony and to commemorate this achievement.

Tillage Construction LLC and its employees have continually demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the community. The company made a conscious effort to not only headquarter their office in a historically underutilized business zone but to hire and utilize as many subcontractors from that and other communities like it throughout Baton Rouge. Tillage Construction LLC continues support the north Baton Rouge community where Mr. Tillage grew up by sponsoring the local youth athletic association, providing scholarships through various church and social organizations, underwriting the Scotlandville secret Santa program and participating in the NBA New Orleans Hornets tickets for charity program.

About Tillage Construction LLC

Tillage Construction LLC is a 100% minority-owned commercial construction company that offers full-service comprehensive packages to the Federal Government, private and public sectors. The Company specializes in Job Order Contracting (JOC), Design Build, New Construction, Commercial Renovation, Interior build-out construction and facilities maintenance.