Business award nods to open Monday

Duane Hicks

Nominations for the 21st-annual Rainy River District Business Awards will open this Monday (Jan. 16).
Starting that day, a link will be available on the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s website homepage (www.fortfranceschamber.com) to nominate a special business or individual in nine different categories.
“There are so many deserving businesses and individuals in our community,” Jennifer Soderholm, executive director of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, said this morning.
“We just encourage people to take a few minutes and thank those individuals and businesses by nominating them.
“Show your appreciation,” Soderholm added.
“It’s a great way for the patron population to thank those who run the local businesses—or that work at the local businesses—for all their hard work and all they’ve done to help make our town the place it is,” she reasoned.
The award categories include:

•Business of the Year;
•Entrepreneur of the Year;
•Employee of the Year Award;
•Business Woman of the Year;
•Customer Service Award (Individual);
•Customer Service Award (Business);
•Home-Based Business Award;
•Small Business Trainer of the Year Award; and
•Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 26.
If you can’t, or don’t want to, use the online nomination form, the Chamber office will have paper forms available.
The nomination period will be followed by online voting from Jan. 27-Feb. 3.
“They have one week to vote only, so it’s going to be a huge push for people to vote in that timeframe,” noted Soderholm.
The annual awards gala, sponsored by New Gold, is set for Thursday, Feb. 9 at Copper River Inn.
Soderholm said the Copper River Inn has provided her with “an amazing menu” for the evening, including a slow-roasted, peppercorn-encrusted Angus striploin with a brandy and merlot demi-glaze.
The evening also will feature entertainment by comedy juggler Robin Chestnut and be emceed by Melanie Williams of Party Rock DJ Services.
Everyone—Chamber member or not—is welcome to attend the gala, Soderholm stressed.