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The Chamber's Economic Development Office can help you with a variety of resources and services, including nominations for our Industry Appreciation Awards program (please scroll down for more info).

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INDUSTRY APPRECIATION AWARDS PROGRAM
Each year, we  celebrate the success of local businesses at our annual Industry Apprecation Awards event at the Indian River State College Richardson Center. We are now seeking nominations for our 2023 Awards program.  We have a great team of volunteers who help us to seek out nominations, and who ultimately vote as to who will receive the coveted awards for each criteria or sub-criteria. We recognize local businesses in a variety of categories, as listed below with a brief explanation.  

The 2023 Awards event is scheduled for Thursday morning, Oct. 26.  And, of course, all those who are selected to receive Awards are encouraged to attend.

HOW TO NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS 
To nominate your business for our 2023 Industry Appreciation Awards, click on the underlined category title, below.  You can then  download the nomination form that best fits your company's interest - be it for an architectural award or an "of the Year" type of award. 
All completed nomination forms are due in to the Chamber's Economic Development Office by 5pm on Friday, Sept. 1.

Our ARCHITECTURAL RECOGNITION awards recognize projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also improve the area in which they are located.  It may be a single building or could comprise multiple buildings - retail, commercial, or industrial.

Architectural Recognition/New Construction - Primarily consider the exterior of the  building(s), with recognition given to extraordinary interior design work and structural design that goes above and beyond what is required by local government; the Certificate of Occupancy must be issued between 8/1/2022 and 8/1/2023.  New buildings constructed for non-profits and governmental entities are also eligible.

Architectural Recognition/Renovation or Restoration - Simliar considerations as new construction, but focusing on historical restoration or renovation, or giving an older facility a much-needed "face lift"; Certificate of Completion must be issued between 8/1/2022 and 8/1/2023; you'll also need to include before/after photos with your nomination.

Architectural Recognition/Adaptive Re-Use - A NEW category for this year! The award recognizes a business that has purchased or moved into a long-vacant building and made it their own, completely changing the original use and/or character of the structure, breathing new life into a once vacant building.  Nominations are accepted for projects that were completed in Jan. 2021 through Aug. 2023.

HOW TO NOMINATE YOUR BUSINESS  
To nominate your business for our 2023 Industry Appreciation Awards, click on the underlined category title, below.  You can then  download the nomination form that best fits your company's interest - be it for an architectural award (LISTED ABOVE) or an "of the Year" type of award, as listed below. 

Our ". . . OF THE YEAR" Awards recognize companies that are successful within their industry, provide a positive work environment, and give back to our community:

Manufacturer of the Year - Excel within your industry, export products out of the region/state/country, and provide a positive work environment.

Entrepreneur of the Year - Must be in business 5 years or less, demonstrate the ability to overcome obstacles in starting your venture and relay your level of community involvement.

Minority Business of the Year - At least 51% owned by a person (or persons) who is members of a particular racial, ethnic, or gender makeup or national origin, as defined by Florida Statute.  Work environment, success wtihin your industry, and community involvement are all considered.

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year - Honoring a local Veteran who is also a successful business owner in Indian River County.  Additional criteria is similar as our Company of the Year award, below.

Company of the Year - Small, mid-size and large business within any industry; work environment, success within your industry, and community involvement are all considered.

We would still like to congratulate to our 2022 Industry Appreciation Award recipients!  We were honored to recognize these exceptional businesses for all they do in our community .  

Our Small, Mid-Size and Large Company of the Year winners were, respectively: 
 - Corporate Air (small), Marine Bank & Trust (mid-size), and The Dyer Auto Group (large)  
 - Veteran-owned Business was Bates Air & Heat
 - Minority Business was Foxy Nails and Oriental Market.
 - Our Entrepreneur of the Year was Garden of Esther
 - And our 2022 Manufacturer of the Year was Nylacarb, a plastic-injection molding firm. 
Congratulations to all!

Click here for a full list of the 2022 Award winners, and here for photos of all of our award recipients.  A special shout-out to our Awards Committee for their hard work in making this event as special as it is - thank you!

Special thanks to Florida Power & Light for generously sponsoring our event!

If you see a construction or renovation project in Indian River County, or know of a company deserving recognition - maybe your own - please call or email us at the Chamber.:  772-567-3491 or helenec@indianrivered.com.  

The Industry Appreciation Awards program is one of the Chamber's signature events. It is held annually to recognize local businesses - Chamber members or not - for what they contribute to our community, either through stunning architectural enhancements, success within their industry, providing a positive work environment, and/or their generous contributions within our community. This program is one of the many activities within our Business Retention/Expansion initiatives.