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Nominations sought for 2012 Mayor’s Small Business Awards

By Staff | Feb 16, 2012

WAILUKU – The Maui Chamber of Commerce and Maui County Office of Economic Development will work in partnership to hold the Annual Mayor’s Small Business Awards in 2012.

These awards recognize and honor outstanding small businesses in the community with 50 or fewer employees.

Nominees must have had a Hawaii General Excise Tax license for no less than two years and show business leadership in a changing economic environment, create a quality work environment for their employees, exhibit the aloha spirit and exemplary customer service, develop partnerships with other sectors of the community and demonstrate other exceptional qualities or traits.

This year’s program includes six award categories: Exceptional Small Business of the Year – 10 or fewer employees, 11 to 25 employees, and 26 to 50 employees; Outstanding Nonprofit Business (50 or fewer employees); Young Small Business Person of the Year (under age 40 as of March 29, 2012); and Lifetime Achievement Award for any individual doing business in Maui County for more than 20 years.

Completed nomination packets must be received at the Maui County Business Resource Center in Maui Mall on or before noon on Friday, March 16.

Nomination forms are available at the Maui County Business Resource Center, Maui Chamber of Commerce and American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank branches. The form is also available online at www.mauicounty.gov/mcbrc and www.mauichamber.com, as well as on the Maui County and Maui Chamber of Commerce Facebook pages.

All finalists and winners will be honored at an awards dinner on Thursday, March 29, at King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapu Ballroom, where photographs with Mayor Alan Arakawa will be taken and presented to all finalists.

Winners will receive a Mayor’s Small Business Award winner decal, a certificate from Arakawa and the Maui Chamber of Commerce, a commemorative plaque, and the company or businessperson’s name listed in press releases sent to the media.

“Small businesses are the true job generators, and they risk a great deal to open their doors, create jobs, grow and stimulate our economy,” said the mayor.

“Maui County is fortunate to have many successful small businesses who are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and ingenuity. I look forward to honoring them through these awards and to sharing their resilience and resourcefulness with others as shining examples of the strength of our community.”

Chamber President Pamela Tumpap said, “Maui’s small businesses are at the heart of our community, and they have gone through a lot these past few years to still be standing. We look forward giving them well-deserved credit and honoring their tremendous accomplishments and investment in our community with Mayor Arakawa and his team.”

For more information about nominations, call 873-8247. Call the chamber at 244-0081 for additional details on sponsorships or event tickets.