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Nominations sought for Mayor’s Small Business Awards

By Staff | Jan 9, 2014

“Maui’s small businesses are at the heart of our community,” said Maui Chamber of Commerce President Pamela Tumpap. “We look forward to giving them well-deserved credit and honoring their tremendous accomplishments and investment in our community.”

WAILUKU – The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (OED) and Maui Chamber of Commerce are coordinating the 2014 Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

Nomination forms are available at the Maui County Business Resource Center at Maui Mall, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Office of Economic Development in Wailuku and the Kuha`o Business Center in Molokai.

The form is also available online at www.mauicounty.gov/MCBRC and at www.mauichamber.com, as well as the OED and Maui Chamber of Commerce Facebook pages.

The deadline for nominations is noon on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

“Small businesses are the true job generators, and owners risk a great deal to open their doors, create jobs, grow and stimulate our economy,” Mayor Alan Arakawa said. “Maui County is fortunate to have many successful small businesses that are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and ingenuity. I look forward to honoring them through this awards program.”

The Mayor’s Small Business Awards honor outstanding small businesses in our community. To be eligible, businesses must have 100 or fewer employees and a Hawaii General Excise Tax license for no fewer than two years.

Criteria include business leadership in a changing economic environment, a quality work environment for employees, the aloha spirit and exemplary customer service, partnerships with other sectors of the community, and other exceptional qualities or traits.

This year’s event includes six award categories and one honorary award: Exceptional Small Business of the Year for ten or fewer employees, 11-35 employees and 36 to 100 employees, Outstanding Nonprofit Business (100 or fewer employees), Young Small Business Person of the Year (under age 40 as of Feb. 26, 2014), Lifetime Achievement Award for any individual doing business in Maui County for more than 20 years with the same for-profit company, and The Annette Pau’ole-Ahakuelo Honorary Award for a Molokai business.

All nominees and winners will be showcased in the media and honored at an awards dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at the Waikapu Ballroom of the King Kamehameha Golf Club.

Teena Rasmussen, director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, said, “We are asking for active participation by our community to nominate deserving small businesses for these awards.”

For more information about nominations, contact the Maui County Business Resource Center at 873-8247 or the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081.