Summary

King County Executive Dow Constantine today celebrated the beginning of the nomination period for the 2013 Executive’s Small Business Awards at the West Seattle location of last year’s winner, Easy Street Records.

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King County Executive Dow Constantine today celebrated the beginning of the nomination period for the 2013 Executive’s Small Business Awards at the West Seattle location of last year’s winner, Easy Street Records.

“I am excited to celebrate our local small businesses for the third year in a row, and I encourage anyone who meets the criteria to apply,” said Executive Constantine.

Easy Street Records was the 2012 Small Business of the Year winner, and President Matt Vaughan today helped announce the start of the 2013 nomination period, along with KeyBank business banker Christine Liu, and State and Local Government representative Dean Iacovelli from the Microsoft Corporation.

"One of the great honors Easy Street Records ever received was being recognized as the King County Small Business of the Year. It is a privilege to host and honor the candidates for the Small Business Awards 2013. We recognize the dedication and perseverance it takes to run a small business,” said Vaughan. “If you look around your neighborhood and local community, it is small business that reflects King County's character and personality. The impact small business makes on our economy is crucial. Please join us in saluting this year’s candidates."

Businesses are eligible for nomination if they operate within King County, have 50 or fewer employees, and have been in business for at least three years. Cities, chambers of commerce, certain business organizations, and small business owners may nominate local firms that meet the criteria. The nomination form can be found online at www.kingcounty.gov/smallbusinessawards.

"We are proud to join the Executive in applauding small business owners in King County. Small businesses are critical to our economy in both down times and now, more than ever as we continue to climb into recovery," said Workforce Development Council Chief Executive Officer Marléna Sessions."They are exemplary in the care they take with training and retaining their workforce."

The Executive’s Small Business Awards are sponsored in partnership with KeyBank, Microsoft Corporation, the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County, and the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County.

An average of 125 firms are nominated each year. Three finalist firms are selected in each of seven categories, and winners are announced at a high-energy, breakfast-hour ceremony attended by nearly 250 people from local chambers of commerce, cities, and small business organizations.

“KeyBank knows that small businesses drive our regional economy and we invest heavily in fueling that engine by lending time, money and effort to help entrepreneurs succeed,” said KeyBank business banker Christine Liu.  “Sponsoring the King County Executive's Small Business Awards for the third year is yet another way we enjoy celebrating the good work being done by small businesses throughout our area.”

The 2013 award ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, with appearances from emcee Pat Cashman and the Seahawks Blue Thunder Drumline.

“Microsoft is proud to sponsor the third-annual Small Business Awards and to honor this year’s winners who exemplify the creativity and determination of small businesses,” said Dean Iacovelli, Northwest Director for Microsoft State and Local Government. “Microsoft is committed to the success and growth of locally-owned small- and medium-sized businesses. Our business and technology resources enable success for millions of small businesses in the U.S., helping them start, grow and thrive by leveraging today’s powerful and affordable technologies.”

“Small businesses are the bedrock of our regional economy,” said Jeff Marcell, President and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Seattle and King County. “The Economic Development Council is once again honored to be a part of this year’s program to recognize small business throughout King County and celebrate their success.”

Last year’s winners were selected by a panel of judges from local jurisdictions and business organizations. Winners receive a glass trophy at a breakfast ceremony attended by hundreds of their peers, a photo with Executive Constantine, recognition in a media release and placement on the King County website for the Small Business Awards.

Winners and finalists from previous years are ineligible for the 2013 awards. The winners and finalists in 2012 were:

2012 Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: Easy Street Records | Seattle
Kenmore Camera | Kenmore 
Trophy Cupcakes and Party | Seattle – Bellevue

2012 Minority Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: General Microsystems Inc. | Bellevue
Idea Entity Corporation | Bellevue
Nesby Associates | Renton

2012 Woman Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: Seattle Chocolates | Tukwila
Dynamic Language | Seattle
Global Resource Group | Bellevue

2012 Exporting Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: Enprecis | Seattle
Pacific Metallurgical | Kent
TransNET Inc. | Issaquah

2012 Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: MicroEnergy Credits | Seattle 
Natural and Built Environments | Kirkland
Model Remodel | Seattle

2012 Workforce Development Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: Kona Kai Coffee Company | Kent
Thinkspace | Redmond 
Thrive | Seattle

2012 Rural Small Business of the Year finalists:
Winner: The Root Connection | Sammamish APD*
Jubilee Biodynamic Farm Inc. | Snoqualmie APD* 
Mosby Farms | Upper Green APD* 

*Agriculture Production District 

For more information, visit https://www.kingcounty.gov/exec/constantine/BusinessAward.aspx