A-OX Welding Supply Co. Inc. was named the family-owned small business of the year by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s district office in South Dakota and SCORE earlier this month.

The Sioux Falls-based company is a family-owned fourth-generation business that sells welding supplies, packaged gas, specialty gas and propane.

Other award winners include:

• Beth Hanna, Building Blocks Childcare and Learning Center, Brandon, small-business person of the year.
• Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop, Letcher, smal-business exporter of the year.
• Dakota Business Finance, 2016 Asset Builder for loan volume and loan dollar.
• Lynne Keller Forbes, SCORE champion of the year.
• Jessica Evans, financial services advocate of the year.
• Tim Johnson, Howard Johnson Inn & Suites in Rapid City, young entrepreneur of the year.

“These companies represent the best of South Dakota and we are proud to be recognizing their achievements,” said John Brown, director of the South Dakota district office.