ChamberChoice categories, criteria & applications

This award celebrates the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. Requirements:

• Has 25 or fewer FTEs.
• Must be a privately held, for-profit business/organization.
• Must be a current member in good standing with The Chamber.
• Has been in business in the FMWF community for a minimum of three years (since January 1, 2018).
• Shows stability or growth in sales, services and/or number of individuals served and/or expanded products and services.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ethical business practices.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee support and development.
• Demonstrates corporate citizenship and/or community leadership.

This award recognizes the incredible impact businesses have on their local economies and how they give back.Requirements:

• Has more than 25 FTEs.
• Must be a privately held, for-profit business/organization.
• Must be a current member in good standing with The Chamber.
• Has been in business in the FMWF community for a minimum of three years (since January 1, 2018).
• Shows stability or growth in sales, services and/or number of individuals served and/or expanded products and services.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ethical business practices.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee support and development.
• Demonstrates corporate citizenship and/or community leadership.

This award recognizes the role that non-profits play in the success of our communities and the needs and people that they serve. Requirements:

• Must be a registered 501(c) (3) not-for-profit as defined by IRS standards in the FMWF community.
• Must be a current member in good standing with The Chamber.
• Has been in business in the FMWF community for a minimum of three years (since January 1, 2018).
• Shows stability or growth in services and/or number of individuals served and/or expanded programs and services.
• Proven contribution to the community's overall quality of life.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ethical business practices.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee support and development.

This award honors employers that invest in the development of young professionals (YPs) and offer exemplary work environments. Requirements:

• Employs young professionals who are defined as under 40 years old.
• Open to all businesses, including not-for-profit and for-profit.
• Organization supports total YP development.
• Has been in business in the FMWF community for a minimum of three years (since January 1, 2018).
• Must be a member in good standing with The Chamber

This award recognizes a business that has made an impactful commitment and visible effort to embrace diversity and inclusion in their workplace and the community. This business will be able to demonstrate their organizational practices are inclusive of all people no matter that person’s race, national origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Open to all businesses, including not-for-profit and for-profit.
• Demonstrates support from leadership for diversity efforts, including vision, initiative and clear expectations.
• Demonstrates intentional creation of policies and procedures that embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Demonstrates key actions and interventions in the building of an inclusive culture.
• Has been in business in the FMWF community for a minimum of three years (since January 1, 2018).
• Must be a member in good standing with The Chamber.

This award honors companies as ‘rising stars’ due to the actual or potential growth of its business, innovative products or services, and outstanding commitment to its employees and community. Company must be in business three years or less.

• Has 25 or fewer FTEs.
• Must be a privately held, for-profit business/organization headquartered in the FMWF community.
• Has been an established business in the FMWF community for less than three years.
• Demonstrates a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, perseverance, innovation and determination.
• Demonstrates potential to scale.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ethical business practices.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee support and development.
• Demonstrates corporate citizenship and/or community leadership.
• Must be a member in good standing with The Chamber.

This award recognizes a business that has overcome significant obstacles, pivoted making alterations in its business structure and function, and/or courageously tried something new and different while maintaining continuous business operations. This business will have quickly acted to reinvent its business model and shown resiliency in the face of adversity.

• Open to all businesses, including not-for-profit and for-profit.
• Demonstrates new and innovative ways to adapt and respond to business disruptions while maintaining continuous business operations or pivoting their operations to serve the greater community.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ethical business practices.
• Demonstrates a commitment to employee support and development.
• Demonstrates corporate citizenship and/or community leadership.
• Must be a member in good standing with The Chamber.