Small Business Development

Small Business Awards

Small businesses play a crucial role in the Mobile Area community and economy and the Chamber is proud to recognize their accomplishments, successes and contributions throughout the year through our Small Business Awards programs. Ninety-four percent of Chamber members are considered small, having less than 100 employees, and many of these companies are truly deserving of these prestigious awards.

 

Why should you apply for the small business awards?

First and foremost, your employees deserve it. Winning an award, or just being nominated, is motivating for your employees and validates their contributions to your company’s success. Awards serve as third party testimonials telling prospective customers or clients that your company is a good one with which to do business. Awards can provide high visibility by triggering media attention that would normally cost many dollars.

 

Tips about applying for awards:

Tell your story! The people reading your application most likely don’t know you or your business. Explain the impact your company makes in the community and on the economy.

Don’t make them read between the lines, tell them exactly what you want them to know.

Give them something that grabs them and tells them why your company deserves win the award.

You can answer the questions with data and facts, and repeat your marketing materials or website content, but the story of your company is more than that.

Use relevant and interesting examples in your story, active and visual words.

With all that said, be thorough but concise. You don’t want them to stop reading before they get to the end of the story.

Small Business of the Month Award

Applications are accepted year-round and evaluated by an independent selection committee. Applications are kept confidential.

 

Criteria:

In business at least two years; Mobile Area Chamber member for one year

Have 100 or fewer employees

Apparent solid financial base

Considered successful by peers

Sales growth, profit growth and/or new product line

Public service contribution

Must be a privately-owned, for-profit company (locally-owned franchise companies are eligible)

Headquartered in Mobile, Baldwin or Washington counties

 

Winners are featured in a full page article in The Business View magazine

Receive the award at the Chamber’s Board of Directors meeting

Featured on the Chamber lobby monitors

Featured on the Chamber’s Small Business website landing page banner for one month

Are encouraged to apply for the Small Business of the Year or Eagle Awards (if eligible)

 

Application Process – Small Business of the Month:

Complete and submit the online form below. The application will remain on file for twelve months. If you have not been selected you are encouraged to reapply.

Small Business of the Year Award

The application process opens April 1 and the deadline to submit is Sunday, May 5, 2019 at midnight. An independent selection committee will select three finalists to be honored at the Chamber’s Small Business Awards Ceremony on August 22, 2019 where the winner will be announced.

 

A volunteer committee will confidentially review and evaluate all submissions and choose the finalists from the information provided in the following areas:
Business Growth, Operations and Impact; Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Business Strategy; Customer Service and Market Strategy; and Community Involvement.

 

Criteria:

In business at least five years; Mobile Area Chamber member for three years

Have 100 or fewer employees

Solid financial base

Demonstrates sales growth/profit or unit growth/new product line/expanding number of employees/innovative initiatives

Evidence of good business practices

Community service contribution(s)

Be a privately-owned, for-profit entity (franchise companies are not eligible)

Headquartered in Mobile, Baldwin or Washington counties

 

Finalists:

Featured in the Business View magazine, on social media and on the Chamber lobby monitors.

Introduced at a Chamber Board of Directors meeting.

Are featured on the Chamber’s Small Business website landing page leading up to the awards ceremony.

All finalists will be nominated to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year competition and are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

Winner:

Recognized in the Business View magazine as the SBY winner.

Featured on the Chamber’s Small Business website landing page banner throughout the year.

Announced and featured via social media.

Featured on the Chamber lobby monitors as the SBY winner.

 

Application Process – Small Business of the Year:

Complete and submit the online application below. Provide additional documentation that supports your application, i.e. marketing materials, press clippings, photos, testimonials, etc.

You must provide two letters of reference: one from your attorney, business banker or accountant AND one from a customer/client or vendor.

You may attach them or send by mail to the Mobile Area Chamber, 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602, Attn. Small Business Department.

Deadline: April 30, 2019, by 5 p.m. For more information, contact Danette Richards at 251-431-8652.

 

Previous Finalists & Winners:

2018 Small Business of the Year

BlueFish

Finalists: Harper Technologies LLC and Lagniappe

 

2017 Small Business of the Year

3 Echoes Production

Finalists: Altaworx and Waite’s Cleaners

 

2016 Small Business of the Year 

B&B PetStop

Finalists: FusionPoint Media and Karen Simmons PC

 

2015 Small Business of the Year

McAleer’s Office Furniture

Finalists: American WeatherStar and Wilson Dismukes

Eagle Awards

Minority-owned business successes are celebrated during the Chamber’s annual Eagle Awards luncheon and ceremony. The competition is open to minority-owned businesses that meet the stated criteria.

 

The application process will open in June 2019. An independent selection committee will select two companies to be honored at the Chamber’s Eagle Awards Luncheon and Ceremony in the fall of 2019. (Date TBA)

 

Criteria:

In business at least three years;

Have 100 or fewer employees

Apparent solid financial base

Sales growth, profit growth and/or new product line

Considered successful by peers

Community service contribution

Be a privately-owned, for-profit entity (locally owned franchise companies are eligible)

Headquartered in Mobile, Baldwin or Washington counties

*For definition purposes, a minority-owned business is one that is 51% owned, operated and controlled by members of the following ethnic groups: African-American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Asian-American.

 

Winners are featured in The Business View magazine, on social media and on the Chamber lobby monitors.

Are featured on the Chamber’s Small Business website landing page banner.

Are encouraged to apply for the Small Business of the Year (if eligible)

 

Application Process – Eagle Award:

Complete and submit the online form below.

Applications are kept confidential.

 

Previous Winners:

2018 Eagle Award Winners

Harper Technologies LLC

VisionSpot Consulting Group

 

2017 Eagle Award Winners

Gaines Plumbing

Harper Technologies LLC

 

EAGLE AWARD HALL OF FAME

Eagle Award winners may reapply for the award after three yeras. Three time winners are inducted into the Eagle Award Hall of Fame.

 

Previous Winners:

Commonwealth National Bank

Makeda Nichols State Farm

Bama Pest Control

Rev. Wesley A. James Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award

A dedicated community leader, Rev. Wesley A. James committed himself to ensuring that minority-owned businesses have equal access to contracting and procurement opportunities. Many of the local accomplishments in supplier diversity can be directly attributed to Rev. James.

The Minority Business Advocate Award (MBA) honors Rev. James’ legacy and recognizes a company or organization that demonstrates supplier diversity and inclusion efforts and extends support to increase opportunities for the minority-owned business community.

 

Criteria:

Must be a Mobile Area Chamber member in good standing*

Have three complete years of operation

Have evidence of strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses

Have an office in Mobile, Baldwin or Washington counties

*Resource partner organizations are eligible.

 

Interested companies must complete the application and provide at least one letter of reference from a minority-owned business supplier or community leader. Applicants must also submit a reference letter from any of the following business associates: a company attorney; CPA or banker; and a vendor or customer. We suggest preparing a presentation packet with your company name on the cover and feature pertinent information that supports your application. Be thorough but concise. All information will be kept strictly confidential and will be used only by the selection committee.

 

As a part of the selection process, finalists may be asked to interview with a committee (independent of the Mobile Area Chamber). The winner will be selected based on information provided in the application, reference letters and interview results.