The Annual Small Business Excellence Awards recognizes local companies who make an impact on our business community and the people that they work with through creativity, innovation and a drive for success. This year we will be honoring the Small Business of the Year along with additional awards for Community Service, Innovation, and Employer of the Year. We will also recognize two leaders from our nonprofit sector with the Charitable Partners Award. 
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***All companies will be asked to submit a video & logo with their application that will be used during the awards ceremony. 
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Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 13th | 11:00 a.m. | Virtually
Sponsored by: 

For Profit Awards

Small Business Awards (including Community Service, Employer of the Year, and Innovation)
• Be a member in good standing with the Cary Chamber of Commerce
• Have been in business for at least two years
• Have fewer than 50 full-time employees or less than $3,000,000 in 2020 sales
• Be privately held - includes partnerships, LLCs, LLPs, C&S corporations, franchises and family businesses
• May not compete for the same award 2 years in a row

To be eligible for Small Business of the Year – you must complete all entries, and meet criteria for each category. 

Charitable Partners Awards

• Be a member in good standing with the Cary Chamber of Commerce
• Have been operational at least two years
• Must be a recognized 501 C(3)
• May not have received a small business award in the last three years
• 2 Nonprofit Awards will be given - one for Small Nonprofit  of the Year (less than $500,000 annual budget), and one for Large Nonprofit of the year (more than $500,000 annual budget)
Charitable Partners will be judged on mission, impact, financial plan and success.
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    For Profit Application Form

    Application deadline is April 9th at 11:59 p.m.
    ​Innovation:
    Nominee must describe how their business has implemented or utilized a creative or unique element in the business. (i.e. a new marketing approach, new product/service, financing, distribution or human resource practice) If the nominee is an older business, the innovation will have enabled the business to excel in today’s environment.
     
    Impact:
    Nominee must describe how their business has experienced exceptional growth in a quantifiable measure (i.e. sales, market penetration etc.) and has achieved leadership in their field.
     
    Community Service:
    Nominee must describe how their business (owners & employees) have shared its success with the community in some significant way. (i.e. charity or volunteer work, church or civic work, Chamber of Commerce involvement or public service)
     
    Employer of the Year:
    Nominee must describe how their work environment creates opportunities to thrive.  By excelling in their practices, the results would be notable (possibly including profitability, improved working relationships between employee and employer and enhanced employee satisfaction).
    Small Business of the Year is required to apply to ALL Categories.

    Please DO NOT include your company name in your applications. Our judges do not know which company has applied. 

    NonProfit Application

    ​Mission – Using your mission statement or description of your program of work, briefly describe the history of your organization and your long and short term goals.  Include your governing structure – i.e. Board of Directors, paid staff, Executive Director.
     
    Impact – Describe the recipients of your service as well as an overview of your volunteer teams. Tell us a memorable story or one that embodies your organization.  Quantify how many benefit from your services and how many volunteers you have in place.  Explain what is expected from volunteers in service and time.  What, if any, volunteer recognition is in place.
     
    Financial Plan – Describe the primary and secondary sources of revenue.  Have you been able to reach your budget goals?  Have you implemented new programs to achieve financial growth?  What percentage of funds is used for administration versus direct client assistance? 
     
    Success – How does your organization measure success?  What plans are in place to ensure achievement in the future?
    Please DO NOT include your company name in your applications. Our judges do not know which company has applied. ​
For questions, contact Christie Moser - cmoser@carychamber.com
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