AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009

June 17, 2008 - The 2009 Award Nomination and Application Forms Are Now Available!

Highlight a small business in your community by nominating them for America's Small Business of the Year Award 2009. The awards program is open to both members and nonmembers of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Submit your nomination or application by August 30 and receive 15% off your 2009 Summit registration. Nominate or apply today!

2009 Nomination Form

2009 Application Form

"The bonding among the Irving business owners and the Chamber staff
attending the Summit was one of the best things to come from our time
in Washington D.C. Getting to know each other on a more personal level
has impacted our business relationships here at home.
We came back to Irving like a powerful team!"
-- Jo Ann Goin, Partner, Glory House Catering Co.,
2008 Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Timeline

June 17, 2008 - Entry applications available online
February 2, 2009 - Entry applications due at the U.S. Chamber
March 2, 2009 - Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners announced
March 16, 2009 - Regional finalists (7) announced
May 11-13, 2009 - America's Small Business Summit 2009
May 12, 2009 - The U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year Award winner is announced during the awards luncheon at the Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel

Eligibility Requirements

Fewer than 250 employees
Gross revenues of less than $20 million in 2007
Able to attend America's Small Business Summit 2009
May 11-13, 2009
Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel
999 Ninth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

March 7, 2008 - U.S. Chamber Announces Seven Regional Finalists!

Congratulations to these seven outstanding organizations for representing the best of small business from the nation!

The 2008 regional finalists of the America's Small Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Sam's Club, consistently demonstrate excellence in all areas of selection criteria, including financial performance and business history, staff training and motivation, community involvement, customer service, and business planning.

Abstract Displays Inc. Great Lakes Regional Finalist	Bayshore Solutions Southeastern Regional Finalist
Gracewinds Perinatal Services, Inc. Northwestern Regional Finalist	Permac Industries Midwestern Regional Finalist
Seconn Fabrication Northeastern Regional Finalist	Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle LLP Western Regional Finalist

Mammen Glass & Mirror, Inc.
Southwest and South Central Regional Finalist

Each finalist was selected to represent one of seven regions across the country from among the winners of the U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Small Business Award. A selection committee will review each finalist to determine the recipient of this year's Small Business of the Year Award, which will be announced at a dinner ceremony on April 17 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel. In addition to being honored at the Summit, finalists will receive a two-night stay in Washington, D.C. to attend the three day event.

The 2008 Blue Ribbon Small Business Winners

The U.S. Chamber is proud to pay special tribute to some of its most valued constituents: America's 23 million small business owners. Through the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award, we are able to recognize the small business community as a whole for its hard work and countless entrepreneurial successes. We are pleased honor this group of 55 outstanding organizations who stand among them as leaders.

The 2008 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award recipients represent every corner of the nation and a wide spectrum of industries. From engineering firms to organic farms, our blue ribbon winners truly demonstrate that small business is the backbone of the U.S. economy.

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^® 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 Home Work Tampa, FL
Icy Strait Point Juneau, AK	Italian Delight South Boston, VA
Joe's Coffee Shop Irving, TX	JVKellyGroup, Inc. Huntington, NY
Kaizen Technologies, Inc. Edison, NJ	Klock Werks 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. Schamburg, 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
TiER1 Performance Solutions Covington, KY	Tredway, Lumsdaine & Doyle LLP Downey, CA
WALLACE - The Training Cost Recovery Company Alpharetta, GA

All Blue Ribbon winners and finalists will be recognized at the Gala Dinner at America's Small Business Summit 2008. One business will go on to be named the 2008 Small Business of the Year.

Eligibility Requirements - Timeline - Levels of Recognition

Levels of Recognition

U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Small Business

Discounted registration for the 2009 Summit
Recognition during Summit awards luncheon and cocktail reception
Blue Ribbon Small Business Certificate
Web sticker to display on winner's web site
Recognition on uschamber.com website

Regional Finalists

All recognition given to Blue Ribbon Winners
Two night Hotel stay at the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel during the Summit
Recognition on Stage during awards ceremony
Crystal Award
Spotlight in uschamber.com Magazine

U.S. Chamber Small Business of the Year

All recognition given to Finalists and Blue Ribbon Winners
Acceptance Speech on Stage
Special Crystal Award

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