National 8(a) Association Becomes National Small Business Government Contractors Association

March 11, 2026 – What started as a mission to support 8(a)-certified businesses has evolved into something bigger. The National 8(a) Association announced today it is becoming the National Small Business Government Contractors Association, formalizing years of organic growth that expanded the organization's reach across the entire small business contracting landscape.

The name change reflects the organization's reality: serving small business government contractors across all certification programs, including 8(a), HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), and emerging entrepreneurs pursuing federal contracting opportunities.

"Our community and events have naturally expanded over the years to include contractors from across the small business certification spectrum," said Ron Perry, President. "Today, a significant portion of our members represent certifications beyond 8(a). This evolution honors our heritage while acknowledging who we have become: the leading national association for ALL small businesses navigating government contracting."

The organization's evolution is reflected not only in its name but in its new visual identity. The redesigned logo - a streamlined eagle formed from ascending geometric bars - tells the story of upward momentum and progress. The new design shows an eagle in flight, its layered stripes creating a sense of advancement.

"The logo captures what we do," explained Melissa Szasz, Executive Director. "The ascending bars represent the trajectory we help our members achieve in government contracting. The eagle honors where we came from, and its forward motion reflects our commitment to continuously support small businesses with the latest education and resources they need to compete and grow."

"We realized our name was creating unnecessary barriers," explained Melissa Szasz, Executive Director. "At our annual National Small Business Conference and throughout our programming, we were already serving small business contractors across all certification types. The education, the matchmaking, the community - it is for all. Our name just needed to say that clearly.”

The decision to evolve the name came after more than a year of strategic planning, member consultation, and analysis of the organization's community composition.

"This is not about abandoning our roots - it's about building on them," Perry added. "Our 8(a) expertise and commitment remain our foundation. A broader, more unified small business contracting community strengthens our organization and increases the value we provide to all our members."

Just as the new logo maintains eagle imagery while modernizing it for forward flight, the rebrand preserves the organization's core expertise while embracing its expanded mission.

What's Changing:

Organization name (to reflect expanded mission)

Visual identity and branding

Messaging about who the association serves

Member benefits (All current members will retain their benefits, but memberships are being enhanced with exciting updates being implemented in the coming weeks.)