The persistence and contribution of Scottsbluff business owner Michael Moravec earned him praise, and awards.
In April, Moravec, owner of Bluffs Physical Therapy, earned accolades as he was named Nebraska’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. He was recognized for the award during ceremonies April 28-29 in Washington, D.C., where SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman recognized state award winners, like Moravec, and national award winners. On Thursday, Tim Mittan, SBA Nebraska district director, recognized Moravec during a small local ceremony.
In honoring Moravec, Mittan said that the physical therapist deserved the award.
“Of all the several applications that we received, he (Moravec) kept coming to the top,” he said. “He’s resilient. He started in 2018, a great time to start (a business), but then a few things happened a couple of years later, and he stayed going. … Then, when he had the opportunity, he came back to this,” Mittan said, motioning around the room to Moravec’s Bluffs Physical Therapy practice, a newer facility he had constructed. “… He is really good at what he does, we can see it here.”
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Moravec’s example is one that also bodes well for the Small Business Administration, as he used the services of the SBA to build and expand his business. Moravec’s example was highlighted in his nomination, which noted that he worked with employees of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s local resource, the Nebraska Business Development Center, as he sought to open his physical therapy practice in 2018. Through the center, he was able to gather information to put together a business plan and financial projections, which allowed him to obtain funding to open in a small rental space. He quickly grew, reaching out again in 2019 to get assistance in putting together financial projections to construct a larger building.
However, in 2020, Moravec found his business impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, distancing restrictions reduced the staff to one, according to a biography, but once restrictions were lifted he returned his employees one at a time.
Moravec’s practice has grown, from one employee to the current 24 employees at Bluffs Physical Therapy. Moravec said he found the process of working with the SBA to be “pretty seamless.”
During his process, he worked with a couple of SBA employees at the local center.
“For anybody who would be looking to start a business, it was really easy and seamless to take care of. They (the Nebraska Business Development Center staff) were a great, great group to work with.”
On Thursday, Moravec praised his wife, Lisa, for her support as he took his “leap of faith” to open his own business. He also praised the Bluffs Physical Therapy employees.
Moravec’s involvement in the community was also noted by Mittan as a reason that the businessman “rose to the top” in the nomination process. Moravec serves on multiple community boards, volunteers and donates yearly to various organizations, schools and other programs.
Moravec said that he felt that community involvement is an important part of being a business owner.
“Thank you to my community,” he said. “You backed me up in starting this (business) and getting this going, but also in continuing where we are today. Who knows where we go from here, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Ceremonies on Thursday also included a proclamation, issued by Scottsbluff Mayor Jeanne McKerrigan and read by Scottsbluff City Manager Kevin Spencer, proclaiming the observation of Small Business Week, April 28-May4.
Contact Maunette Loeks: maunette.loeks@starherald.com, 308-632-9054.
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