The Board of Directors of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is currently soliciting nominations for the annual Door County Industry of the Year Award and the Door County Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The awards celebrate businesses that help to create a positive business climate in Door County. The award winners will be announced at the Annual Meeting of the Door County Economic Development Corporation this spring. The date for the Annual Meeting will be announced shortly.
The Industry of the Year Award recognizes a construction, service or manufacturing business that has made a substantial impact on the community and enjoyed significant accomplishments during the past year. Selection criteria include the firm’s stability within the marketplace, growth through job creation and capital investment, innovations in technology and/or business processes, leadership within the industry and business community and corporate citizenship, including involvement in community affairs and development.
This year marks the 38th year of this prestigious award, first presented by the Door County Chamber of Commerce in 1973. Last year’s award winner was Roen Salvage Company. Other recent winners of the Industry of the Year Award include Door Peninsula Winery, N.E.W Industries, Inc., and Washington Island Ferry Line.
The Entrepreneur of the Year Award — last year given to Northern Door restaurateurs JJ and Kristine Johnson — celebrates those individuals who have taken the initiative to start and grow a successful small business in Door County. Eligible businesses include those with fewer than 50 employees that exhibit recent growth and future potential through job creation, innovation and/or investment in the business, have at least three years of successful business experience and demonstrated civic and community involvement.
According to DCEDC Board Chair Roger Kinnard: “The Industry Award serves to recognize the continuing importance of our manufacturing, service and industrial businesses to the Door County economy. The Entrepreneur Award celebrates how important small businesses are for the continuing growth of our local economy. Nationally, small business accounts for 60-80% of new job creation. That situation is only magnified in Door County, and it is our pleasure to honor those who are starting and growing small businesses here.”
Any Door County resident or business can nominate a business or entrepreneur by contacting DCEDC. Self-nominations are also encouraged.
Nomination forms are available from DCEDC and on the Website. Nominations are due to DCEDC by Friday, February 18, 2011.
The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is a public/private partnership dedicated to improving the economic vitality of the county and its residents. Founded in 1989, DCEDC has been successful in helping existing businesses create and retain thousands of jobs through a myriad of programs and initiatives. Additionally, DCEDC places strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurial instincts in county residents as well as those who vacation on the Door County Peninsula. Door County Economic Development Corporation offices are located within the small business incubator DCEDC founded in 1997 at 185 East Walnut Street in the Sturgeon Bay Industrial Park.
