Salute to Small Business Awards - Entrepreneur Award

Program Overview:
Commerce Lexington Inc. has honored small business contributions to the economy since 1986. This is one of four award categories in the Salute to Small Business Awards program.

Award Category Focus:
The Entrepreneur Award celebrates a visionary entrepreneur who has turned an idea into a successful and growing business.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Individual must be a majority owner
• Individual must operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business
• Business must have at least a three-year track record
• Business must have fewer than 150 employees (full-time or combination of full- and part-time)
• Must be an active member of Commerce Lexington Inc.
• Small businesses can apply for ONE award category only
• Past Category and overall Small Business of the Year award recipients are NOT eligible to reapply for 5 years from the date of their award presentation

Primary Evaluation Criteria:

• Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits
• Increased employment opportunities created by the nominee's business
• Development and/or utilization of innovative or creative business methods
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth

Application Confidentiality:
Applications are kept confidential.

Selection Process:

• Applicants are judged by a selection committee
• Winners are selected for each of the four categories
• Category winners' names are released approximately one month prior to the Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon
• The Small Business of the Year is then selected from the category winners (excluding nonprofit of the year) and announced at the awards luncheon

Contact Information:
Commerce Lexington Inc.

Application Process

How to Apply:

1. Visit the Commerce Lexington website to access the Salute to Small Business Awards application
2. Complete the streamlined application form (Commerce Lexington has reduced redundancy in the application)
3. Submit by the deadline

Required Information:

• Business and ownership information
• Evidence of success (sales and profits data)
• Information about employment opportunities created
• Details on innovative or creative business methods used
• Demonstration of entrepreneurial potential and long-term business strategy

Submission Requirements:

• Applications must be submitted through Commerce Lexington
• Only ONE award category per business
• Applications kept confidential

Note: Specific application details (narrative questions, submission format, exact deadline) were not provided in the available website content. Contact Commerce Lexington directly for complete application instructions.