June 17 through 21 is National Small Business Week (NSBW), an annual opportunity to focus on supporting and celebrating the accomplishments of entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. For the very first time, this year’s effort kicks off with particularly large events in five major cities:

• Seattle on June 17

• Dallas on June 18

• St. Louis on June 19

• Pittsburgh on June 20

The week-long celebration then culminates in the fifth and final location of Washington, D.C. on June 20 and 21, where the winner of this year’s National Small Business Person of the Year Award will be announced from among all of this year’s state finalists.

Additionally, dozens of smaller and more local NSBW events are being held across the country. (Click here on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) local events guide map to find one near you now!)

Online registration to attend the major-city events and their select forums is now open until 12 p.m. EST on Wednesday, June 12. Simply click here on the main NSBW website and then on the city of interest for more information!

Attendees at each of this year’s major events will have the opportunity to interact with a range of small business experts, national business leaders, federal officials and local elected leaders for the primary purposes of discussing today’s small business landscape and its implications, coaching, matchmaking and networking.

Of particular interest is this week’s announcement that business industry leader Angie Hicks, the founder of Angies’ List®, will headline the Washington, D.C.-based event by participating in an arm-chair forum with SBA Administrator Karen Mills.

Not able to attend in this year’s festivities in person? No problem! NSBW will also feature daily online forums that will focus on a range of hot topics for small business owners, including Social Media 101 and Access to Capital.