2020 Business Awards Nomination Form
The City of South Portland’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) is seeking nominations for the City’s annual Business & Economic Development Awards. This year, like most events, we are doing things differently with a virtual awards ceremony. We have decided to recognize the struggles that our business community has faced and to focus our awards on honoring the businesses keeping us safe and working through the pandemic.
All nominations are due by January 15, 2021.
We welcome nominations of businesses in South Portland that you feel would fit one or more of the following categories:
COVID Pivot Pioneer – A company that adapted their business quickly to come up with new ways to operate and do business safely. Who are the trailblazers that first made a shift to keep their businesses going? Examples would be converting a building window to a take-out window – or launching a touch free pick up or delivery system.
Heroes Helping Heroes – A company that donated food, PPE or others supplies or volunteered to help the heroes on the front lines. Examples would be a restaurant that donated meals to hospital workers or manufacturing that shifted to making masks donated to front line workers.
Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now – A company that opened a new business in the middle of the pandemic. An example would be anyone with the grit and fortitude to open their doors for business in 2020.
Job Preserver – A business that helped keep up their workforce numbers by adapting to the “new normal”. Examples would be shifting to remote work or changing their operational model to keep people working safely.
Keeping us safe – A business that did a great job in creating a safe way to keep open during the pandemic for their employees and customers. Examples would be a business providing PPE to employees and customers, doing a good job of social distancing, or moving to contactless delivery or pickup.
Impact Award – A business that was able to make a significate impact to help improve the economy in South Portland despite the pandemic. Examples would be a development project that was able to keep moving forward or a business that was able to pivot and hire more workers to meet a new need.
Award Selection Process: Nomination applications are accepted from organizations and the public. The City of South Portland Economic Development Committee (EDC) and City of South Portland staff will also provide nominees. Once all nominations are compiled (received no later than January 15, 2021) the EDC Awards Committee will review them and provide its recommendations to the full EDC for its review and approval.