State Rep. Matt Soper is among six winners of awards presented by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Soper, a Republican from Delta who represents District 54 in the Colorado House of Representatives, received the Guardian of Small Business Award.

“Although there were others who had good pro small business voting records in the last session of the Colorado Legislature, six went the extra mile for mom-and-pop enterprises, especially on Senate Bill 22-234 dealing with the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund. And for that, we’re proud to honor them as Guardians of Small Business,” said Tony Gagliardi, state director of the NFIB in Colorado.

The other Guardians of Small Business Award winners were State Rep. Richard Holtor and State Sens. Larry Liston, Paul Lundeen and Rob Woodward. An award for State Rep. Hugh McKean, the House minority leader, will be presented posthumously.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan and member-driven association, the NFIB advocates on behalf of small business owners at all 50 state capitals as well as Washington, D.C.