All nominations are due by 5 PM CST on Friday, April 28, 2023.

Nominations are now open for our 2023 Annual Small Business Awards!

Each year, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber recognizes well-respected small businesses whose hard work and dedication help make our community shine. Winning a Small Business Award is a big honor, and it’s also an excellent way to get your company’s name recognized in a competitive market. After all, you want to be a small business that stands out!

Nominate a BUSINESS for one of the following categories:

• Admin/Support Services Business of the Year
• Arts & Recreation Business of the Year
• Construction Company of the Year
• Emerging Business of the Year
• Health/Social Services Business of the Year
• Hospitality Services Business of the Year
• Manufacturer of the Year
• Minority-Owned Business of the Year
• Nonprofit of the Year
• Professional/Technical Services Business of the Year
• Retailer of the Year
• Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
• Woman-Owned Business of the Year

Nominate an INDIVIDUAL for one of the following categories:

• Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award
• Young Professional of the Year

NOMINATION GUIDELINES:

Please read carefully to ensure the business or individual you are nominating falls within these guidelines. Any Nominee that does not fit the guidelines will automatically be disqualified.

Qualifications to apply:

• Nominee must be a current Chamber Member in good standing; membership and account must be current through September 2023.
• Nominee must be licensed in the State of Alabama.
• Nominee must be within the required employee count (under 250 employees); the only exception is the Professional/Technical Services category. Employee count is the total number of employees in ALL locations.
• Nominations will be accepted in the Professional/Technical Services category for companies that are: Small (≤100 employees), Medium (101-300 employees), and Large (301+). An award will be made in each size category.
• Nominee must have been actively in business a minimum of three years (by September 28, 2023); the only exception is the Emerging Business category.
• Nominees for the Emerging Business category may not be more than two years old by September 28, 2023.
• Nominee in any business category must not have received any of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Small Business Award(s) in the last three (3) years, excluding Young Professional of the Year or the Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award.
• Nominee may apply for more than one category (category must describe 75% of services/products provided), but will only be eligible to receive ONE award.
• Awards will only be given in categories with 3 or more valid contenders.

BUSINESS CATEGORIES

Admin/Support Services Business of the Year

• This category comprises establishments performing routine support activities for the day-to-day operations of other organizations. Activities performed by businesses in this category include: office administration, hiring and placing of personnel, document preparation and similar clerical services, solicitation, collection, security and surveillance services, cleaning.

Arts & Recreation Business of the Year

• This category includes a wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of their patrons. Businesses in this category include museums, historical sites, independent artists, writers and performers, dance companies, and theater companies.

Construction Company of the Year

• The Construction sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings or engineering. Establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of sites for new construction and establishments primarily engaged in subdividing land for sale as building sites also are included in this sector.

Emerging Business of the Year

• This category includes businesses in any of the award categories that have been in business for less than 3 three years (to the date of the awards program, September 28, 2023).

Health/Social Services Business of the Year

• This category includes Healthcare and Social Assistance establishments providing healthcare and social assistance for individuals. Establishments in this category deliver services by trained professionals. Businesses in this category include family practice, dental, chiropractic, specialty healthcare services, and counseling centers.

Hospitality Services Business of the Year

• This category comprises establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption. Businesses in this category include: caterers, restaurants, and hotels.

Manufacturer of the Year

• The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing.

Minority-Owned Business of the Year

• Applicants in this category meet all of the qualifications for a small business award, is a business in any of the award categories, and is a minority-owned business. The minority business owner must be a shareholder with 51% or greater company ownership and provide significant daily leadership for the financial and operational strength of the company.

Nonprofit of the Year

• Must have an official 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) designation from the IRS or a designation as a donor directed fund of a community foundation; must also be located in and serve the residents of Madison County.

Professional/Technical Services Business of the Year

• This category includes companies that specialize in performing professional, scientific, and technical activities for others. These activities require a high degree of expertise and training (require professional licenses/certification). The businesses in this category specialize according to expertise and provide these services to clients in a variety of industries and, in some cases, to households. This category includes businesses providing legal advice and representation; accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services; architectural, engineering, and specialized design services; computer services; consulting services; research services; advertising services; photographic services; translation and interpretation services; veterinary services; and other professional, scientific, and technical services
• This category will have 3 awards based on company size:
  • Small (≤100 employees)
  • Medium (101-300 employees)
  • Large (301+)

Retailer of the Year

• This category includes businesses that engage in retailing merchandise and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise.

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

• Applicants in this category meet all of the qualifications for a small business award, is a business in any of the award categories, and is a veteran-owned business. The Veteran Business owner must be a shareholder with 51% or greater company ownership and provide significant daily leadership for the financial and operational strength of the company.

Woman-Owned Business of the Year

• Applicants in this category meet all of the qualifications for a small business award, is a business in any of the award categories, and is a woman-owned business. The woman business owner must be a shareholder with 51% or greater company ownership and provide significant daily leadership for the financial and operational strength of the company.

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES

Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award

Applicants in this category must meet all of the qualifications for a small business award, and meet the following criteria:

• Must have started, owned, currently own, or serve in the capacity of CEO or President for a small business or organization that operates in and serves Madison County for a minimum of 3 years.
• Must not have received this award, Entrepreneur or Executive of the Year in the last 10 Years.
• Must submit the completed profile in the requested format (failure to do so will result in disqualification) by close of business of the Small Business Awards application deadline.

Young Professional of the Year

Applicants in this category must meet all of the qualifications for a small business award, and meet the following criteria:

• Must have been employed continually in the Huntsville/Madison County metro area for a minimum of 3 years. Must not have received this award before.
• Must be 40 years of age or younger as of September 28, 2023.
• Must submit the completed profile in the requested format, and have all recommendations submitted (failure to do so will result in disqualification) by close of business of the Small Business Awards application deadline.