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Small Business Award Nominations

MetroAction and The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce have partnered to honor area businesses through its SAGE Awards.

The SAGE Awards, which stands for Scranton’s Awards for Growth and Excellence, celebrate the outstanding efforts of the local business community and their talent, creativity, and innovation in a challenging business environment.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

Three finalists will be selected for each category and the winner will be announced at the annual Awards Gala on November 11. In addition, all finalists (with the exception of Pride and Progress finalists) will be entered into the People’s Choice Award category, sponsored by People’s National Bank.

The SAGE Awards give business and other organizations the opportunity to showcase themselves and demonstrate their success to the community. It is also a great way to open doors to new opportunities.

The award finalists and winners will receive extensive pre and post-event exposure through our marketing partnerships with several media outlets, including Lamar, WBRE, WYOU, FOX, My Network and CW. 

Judging Criteria

  • Our award review committee will evaluate all applications that meet the eligibility criteria. Committee decisions are final.
  • Up to three finalists will be selected for each award/category.
  • All finalists must be present at the Chamber Awards Gala where the recipient of each award/category will be announced.
  • Finalists from all award categories (except Pride & Progress categories) will have the opportunity to be selected as the “People’s Choice Award” recipient. The recipient of this award will be determined by a community popular vote.
  • The award finalists and winners will receive extensive pre and post-event exposure through our marketing partnerships with several media outlets, including Lamar, WBRE, WYOU, FOX, My Network and CW.

Nomination Deadline

The deadline for applications is September 30, 2010.

Award Descriptions

Best Practices Awards

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These awards recognize companies that have implemented policies and program in place to generate competitive advantages, revenue profits and/or long-term value in the following categories:

Customer Service: Showcases a company whose customer service techniques and implementations resulted in an overall increase of client satisfaction leading to higher client retention, referrals and/or profits.

Technology & Innovation: Showcases a company whose technologies have made a major impact on the company’s ability to generate profits and create a competitive advantage. The technology must have been created for and implemented for results within the company, not for a client/customer.

Human Resources & Leadership: Showcases a company that has implemented processes to identify, attract, retain and/or motivate a workforce that establishes a culture of empowerment and provide the company with a competitive advantage.

Community Involvement: Showcases a company that clearly demonstrates its commitment to community involvement and philanthropic programs as part of their core business values.

Eligibility

  • Any for-profit business serving Lackawanna County.
  • The business must be fully operational for at least 12 months.
  • The business must be a member, in good standing, of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time of the award presentation.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Excellence in Professional Development Award

This award recognizes an organization that is committed to growth through the professional development and training of its employees.

Eligibility

  • Nominees are evaluated on the strength, creativity, and success of their workplace professional development and training.
  • Nominees must be a member, in good standing, of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time the award is presented.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala

Green Practices Award

This award honors businesses that integrate environmental sustainability as a core value and point of reference into their business’s operational and corporate structure.  Awards will be given in two categories: 2-100 employees and 101+ employees.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must integrate environmental sustainability as a core value and point of reference into their business’s operational and corporate structure via six major components of sustainability- waste reduction & recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency, transportation, buying & selling green products and pollution prevention.
  • Awards will be given in 2 categories, 2-100 employees and 101+ employees
  • Nominees must be a member, in good standing, of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time the award is presented.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Healthy Workplace Award

       

This award recognizes companies that have adopted wellness practices in the workplace. Awards will be given in two categories: 2-100 employees and 101+ employees.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must succssfully adopted wellness practices in the workplace.
  • Awards will be given in 2 categories, 2-100 employees and 101+ employees
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Hometown Star Award

This award was created to honor an individual or organization which has made a significant economic impact on our area by conducting an event in Lackawanna County.

Eligibility

  • The organization shall be located within Lackawanna County
  • The event must have taken place within the previous year
  • The event should have a significant economic impact on Lackawanna County
  • The event should have a social, historical and charitable contribution
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

New and Emerging Small Business Award

This award recognizes an emerging-growth company that has demonstrated a capacity for creativity and innovation, experienced growth and established itself as a leader in its industry.

Eligibility

  • Any for-profit business serving Lackawanna County.
  • Must be financially stable and operational for a minimum of 12 months and no longer than three years.
  • The business must have less than 50 employees.
  • The business must be a member, in good standing, of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time of the award presentation.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award

This award recognizes an established, greater Scranton area 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that demonstrates extraordinary excellence and superior performance, quality and consistency in the pursuit of its mission.  The award highlights five major components: Role in Society, Financial Stability, Fundraising, Marketing and Strategic Alliances.  Ultimately, this award publicly testifies the nonprofit sector’s commitment to excellence — always for the benefit of society, which truly distinguishes the nonprofit sector from the government/business sector.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must successfully demonstrate their Role in Society, Financial Stability, Fundraising, Marketing and Strategic Alliances.
  • The organization must be at least five years old.
  • Organizations must be based in the greater Scranton area, even if their work serves populations outside of this jurisdiction.
  • Must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Government entities, business entities and individuals are not eligible to apply.
  • Applications are welcome from small as well as large organizations, any type of nonprofit, regardless of mission, religious affiliation, ethnicity, socioeconomic grouping, ideological perspective or sexual orientation.
  • Three references are required.  References could include board members, funders, community partners or other stakeholders, but are preferably not be staff members of the nominated organization.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Pride and Progress Awards

These awards recognize Lackawanna County’s public and private sector operations for upgrading their establishments, improving the appearance of their respective neighborhood and beautifying the region in the following categories:

Green Renovations: Both exterior and/or interior renovations featuring substantial “green” features are eligible for this category.

Exterior Renovations: Renovations must express and accentuate the original architectural character and features of the building.

Interior Renovations: The interior design work of quasi-public buildings will also be considered under this category.

New Construction: The facility must respond to the surrounding character of its respective neighborhood.

Landscape and Site Design: Plazas, squares, pedestrian malls, fountains, and sculptures are eligible, as long as the nominated structure is not directly related to a building that is under construction or a consideration in one of the other categories.

Community Pride: Projects that contribute to the enhancement of our area’s quality of life are eligible for this category.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must successfully demonstrate that they have upgraded their establishments, improved the appearance of their respective neighborhoods or beautified the region.
  • The facility must be located in Lackawanna County.
  • The structure must be a commercial or public building.
  • The facility must have been renovated, constructed, or landscaped within the last two years.
  • The construction or renovation of private residences is ineligible.
  • Before and after photographs, in color, must accompany the application.
  • The awards will be given in six different categories, Green Renovations, Exterior Renovations, Interior Renovations, New Construction, Landscape and Site Design and Community Pride.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Small Business of the Year Award

This award recognizes a local small business, with 50 or fewer employees, that has a strong community presence and demonstrates exemplary operational successes in areas such as sound business planning, fiscal responsibility and work process innovation in operating their business.

Eligibility

  • Any for-profit business serving Lackawanna County.
  • Must be financially stable and operational for a minimum of three years.
  • The business must have less than 50 employees.
  • The business must be a member, in good standing, of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time of the award presentation.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Solo-preneur of the Year Award

This award recognizes the accomplishments and operational successes of a local business that is owned and operated by a single individual.

Eligibility

  • Any for-profit business serving Lackawanna County.
  • The business must be fully operational for at least 3 years.
  • The business must have less than 50 employees.
  • Business must be owned and completely operated by one person.
  • The business must be a member, in good standing, of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce at the time of application and at the time of the award presentation.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Woman of Excellence Award

This award recognizes a woman whose years of personal and professional character, conduct, service, leadership and achievements have contributed positively to the greater Scranton area.

Eligibility

  • Nominees must contribute to the current and future development of the greater Scranton community by serving as an inspirational leader, promoting equity for women and young woman everywhere, excelling in her profession and being an innovator of unique programs and services.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award

This award recognizes the accomplishments and operational successes of a local business that is owned and operated by an individual age 13-30.

Eligibility

  • Any for-profit business serving Lackawanna County.
  • Business must owned and operated by an individual age 13 to 30. If business has more than one owner, all owners must be age 13 to 30;
  • Nominee must reside, operate their business or attend school in Lackawanna County. Dorm students are eligible.
  • The business must have less than 50 employees.
  • If selected as an award finalist, at least one representative from the business must attend the Chamber’s Award Gala.

 

 

 

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