U.S. Chamber Honors the Nation's Exemplary Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC-Today the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award for dedication to excellence in several categories of entrepreneurship.

"Winners of the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award represent the country's finest small business success stories," said Tom Donohue, Chamber president and CEO. "Small businesses are the backbone of America's economy, representing more than 99% of all employers, creating three-fourths of all new jobs, and accounting for more than one-half of the nation's gross domestic product."

The Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, sponsored by Sam's Club, was designed to honor businesses that excel in a variety of selection criteria, including financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business planning.

Winners of the award from around the country will be honored at America's Small Business Summit 2008 April 16 - 18, in Washington, D.C. The award is part of the Chamber's Small Business of the Year selection process. One Blue Ribbon Small Business will be selected from each of seven regions as a finalist for the U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award. The finalists will be announced on March 7.

"The Blue Ribbon Small Business award allows us to honor the tireless efforts of America's small businesses," said Donohue. "These folks are making a real difference in communities around the country."

Winners include:

ABC Security Service, Inc. - Oakland, CA
Abstract Displays Inc. - Cincinnati, OH
All Star Movers - Fairfax, VA
Arc Aspicio - Arlington, VA
BASC, Inc. - Irving, TX
Bayshore Solutions - Tampa, FL
Benham Real Estate Group - Concord, NC
BES, Inc. - Fairhope, AL
Candy House Gourmet Chocolates - Joplin, MO
Charleston Cookie Company - Charleston, SC
Chicago Sightseeing Company, Inc. - Chicago, IL
East Tech Company, Inc. - Chattanooga, TN
Echo Concepts, Inc. - Denver, CO
Edwards Creative Services - Milan, IL
Environmental Waste Management Systems, Inc. - Honolulu, HI
Faces Day Spa and Boutique - Hilton Head, SC
FASTSIGNS(r) Irving - Irving, TX
Financial Information Technologies, Inc. - Tampa FL
Financial Plus Credit Union - Ottawa, IL
Gallas, Inc. - Hot Springs AR
Glory House Catering Company - Irving, TX
Gracewinds Perinatal Services, Inc. - Seattle, WA
Guidant Financial Group - Bellevue, WA
HomeOwner HomeWork - Tampa, FL
Icy Straight Point - Juneau, AK
Italian Delight - South Boston, VA
Joe's Coffee Shop - Irving, TX
JVKellyGroup, Inc. - Huntington, NY
Kaizen Technologies, Inc. - Edison, NJ
Kustom Cycles, Inc. - Mitchell, SD
Low Country Case & Millwork, Inc. - Ladson, SC
M & M Technical Services - Woodbridge, VA
Mammen Glass & Mirror, Inc. - Irving, TX
Melissa V. Rozas, DDS - Coppell, TX
Metalworx, Inc. - Summerville, SC
Mike Collins & Associates, Inc. - Chattanooga, TN
Milestone Books - Vestavia Hills, AL
Morgan Multimedia, Inc. - Santa Clara, CA
Neely's BBQ - Memphis, TN
Newton Outpost Café, LLC - Oak Hills, CA
North Coast Tutoring Services - Solon, OH
Ocean Breeze Awnings, Inc. - Surfside Beach, SC
Orbit Systems, Inc. - Eagan, MN
Performance Marketing - West Des Moines, IA
Permac Industries - Burnsville, MN
Quality Float Works, Inc. - Schaumburg, IL
Rana Enterprises Group - Milwaukee, WI
Reliable Review Services, LLC. - Boca Raton, FL
Restaurant at Patowmack Farm - Lovettsville, VA
Rosas Farms - Sparr, FL
Seconn Fabrication - Waterford, CT
The Christmas Attic - Alexandria, VA
TiERl Performance Solutions - Covington, KY
Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle LLP - Downey, CA
WALLACE - The Training Cost Recovery Company - Alpharetta, GA

To learn more about America's Small Business Summit 2008 visit www.uschambersummit.com. The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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