Chamber looking for business of the year nominations

Chamber Awards Nomination Video

Posted by MorinvilleNews.com on Sunday, 13 September 2015

by Stephen Dafoe

Small Business Week is more than a month away and the Morinville and District Chamber of Commerce’s annual gala along with it. But the local business advocacy group is already making plans for the big day by seeking nominations for business of the year in a variety of categories. Nominations Opened Sept. 8 and will close Oct. 8.

“It’s to recognize and to inform people about all the great businesses that we have in the community,” said Phil Hughes, this year’s Chamber Gala chair. “It’s to notify people but also to reward them for great service to the community as well.”

Multiple award categories

The Chamber will showcase the nominees and winners in a variety of business categories and efforts. This year’s Business of the Year will be awarded for Small, Medium, Large, and Home-based categories.

To be eligible for any of the Business of the Year awards the business must be a member of the Morinville and District Chamber of Commerce. The business must be 51% owned or operated by an Alberta-based company, and their major business activities must take place within Alberta. Businesses must be in business for more than three years, except for those nominated for the New Business category. Additionally, they must demonstrate significant achievement in growth, sales, or expansion over the past three years.

The nomination committee will judge nominees based on business achievements, involvement in business, professional associations and community, level of customer service, and significant contributions to the community either monetarily, through gifts of kind, or volunteer contributions.

In addition to the various Business of the Year awards, four other categories are now open to nominations. They are the Community Spirit Award for not-for-profit businesses, the Legacy Award for long-time business, the Youth Entrepreneurial Award for those under 25, and the New Business of the Year Award for those in business less than three years.

Online nomination process

This year’s awards will include an online nomination process available on MorinvilleNews.com as well as the conventional print form available at the Chamber office.

This year’s gala evening takes place Oct. 29 and will carry a Chinese theme in keeping with the business organization’s upcoming trip to China.

Hughes said the gala is an opportunity for the region’s business community to come together and share a year of successes.

“As in the Chamber meetings, they get together and celebrate their successes,” he said. “It’s a chance to network. It’s a chance to get to know new businesses that are popping up around the town. In that sense, it is a great networking, social event.”

To nominate a local business for one of the nine awards, visit MorinvilleNews.com/Chamber for categories, criteria, and the online nomination form.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A BUSINESS

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