Michelle Nicholson, the founder and owner of Flour bakery In Hebron, was named person of the year in 2025 Connecticut in 2025 by the Small Business Administration of the United States.
Nicholson started the bakery at home in 2020.
It then extended to a commercial kitchen in a local church before opening its first retail space in 2021.
The FLOUR Girl Bakery now has 40 employees and has extended to two additional spaces with another extension and a new event in progress.
“As an entrepreneur, Michelle’s creativity ignited the American dream while she has perfected the recipe for her breads and her brand,” said Connecticut district director Catherine Marx.
Success recipe
The SBA noted Nicholson and the Flour Girl Bakery support community and charity initiatives, including a dedicated fund collection program.
Nicholson is also involved in the River Connecticut Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Rham High School Deca program.
“We have transformed challenges into opportunities and dreams in reality.”
Flour bakery
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our incredible team and the unwavering support of our community,” published the bakery on its Facebook page.
“Together, we have transformed the challenges into opportunities and dreams in reality.”
Winner
Nicholson is part of a group of winners of the Small Business 2025 Prix in Connecticut 2025, representing different categories and industries.
“This year’s winners embody the grain and the determination it takes to succeed in continuing the American dream,” said Marx.
The winners include:
- Jeffrey Butland, a small family business of the year,: Gregory Confessore, Cricket Press, Inc.
- Manufacturer of the year – Connecticut and New England region: Rafey Zaheer, Medzah Industries
- Business of the Year microenterprise: Matthew Quinn and Steven Potoff, Greenmont Healthcare Products LLC
- Young entrepreneur of the year: AIMEE Filipptti, never enough cooking
- Small business belonging to veterans of the year: Chris Pacheco, Seacoast mushrooms
- Small business belonging to women of the year: Elizabeth Calvanese, Goggin Safety Services LLC
The winners will be honored with National Small Business Week SBA Awards & Resource Expo May 8 in Woodwinds in Branford.
Honor innovators
The event is a collaboration between the CBIA and the Connecticut SBA district office.
“Connecticut is the country of small businesses, representing more than 99% of all state companies – employing almost half of the workforce of the state,” said CBIA president and chief executive officer Chris Dipentima.
“These companies are the heart rate of our economy, with contributions to our state and our local communities which cannot be underestimated.”
“These companies are the heart rate of our economy.”
Chris Dipentima of the CBIA
As a small business of the year in 2025 in Connecticut, Nicholson will compete in the national prize.
This will be distributed during a ceremony in Washington, DC on May 5 during the National Small Business Week.
“The national week of small businesses pays tribute to risk takers, innovators and job creators who are the backbone of the American economy,” said the regional administrator of New England, Peter A. Steele.
“I congratulate the winners of Connecticut for this well -deserved recognition and their role in the food of prosperity, growth and creation of employment opportunities.”