Nominations for 2015 Mayor’s Small Business Awards Close Feb. 6

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

Can you think of a local small business with exceptional products, people, and/or services in the Maui community? If so, now is the time to applaud their excellence with a nomination for the Mayor’s Annual Small Business Awards for 2015.

The qualities sought in the awardees include outstanding leadership through economic changes, quality working conditions provided for employees, demonstration of aloha spirit and service excellence, and multi-sector relationships across the community.

To qualify, the business must have 100 or fewer employees and have had a Hawai‘i General Excise Tax license for a minimum of two years.

The six award categories for this year’s event are:

• Exceptional Small Business of the Year (10 or fewer employees)
• Exceptional Small Business of the Year (11 to 35 employees)
• Exceptional Small Business of the Year (36 to 100 employees)
• Outstanding Nonprofit Business (100 or fewer employees)
• Young Small Business Person of the Year (under age 40 as of Feb. 26, 2015)
• Lifetime Achievement Award (for any individual doing business in Maui County for more than 20 years – no limit on number of employees)

The winners and finalists will be honored at an awards dinner on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Waikapū Ballroom of the King Kamehameha Golf Club.

“Small businesses are the true job generators in our community, and they risk a great deal to open their doors, create jobs, grow and stimulate our economy,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “Maui County is fortunate to have many successful small businesses that are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and ingenuity. I look forward to honoring them through these awards and to sharing their resilience and resourcefulness with others as shining examples of the strength of our community.”

Nomination forms can be found online at www.mauicounty.gov/MCBRC and www.mauichamber.com, or can be picked up at the Maui County Business Resource Center at Maui Mall; the Maui Chamber of Commerce; American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawai‘i, Central Pacific Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank branches.

Completed forms must be submitted at the Maui County Business Resource Center at Maui Mall no later than noon on Friday, Feb. 6. The forms should include a typed letter of recommendation along with a high resolution digital photo (minimum 300 dpi) of the nominee.

Self or employer nominations will not be considered.

For more information about nominations and the awards event, contact the Maui County Business Resource Center at 873-8247 or the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081.