FAIRMONT — Nominations opened this week to name top area businesses and an outstanding non-profit. The program is sponsored annually by the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce as a way to recognize its members for noteworthy achievement the previous year.

“This is a great way to celebrate a business or a non-profit that is doing things really well,” said Ned Koppen, Chamber president. “It’s great to recognize our local members, to take the time and think about all the exceptional businesses in the area.”

Winners for 2019 will be announced at the Chamber’s annual meeting Feb. 28 at the Fairmont Holiday Inn.

Anyone residing or doing in business in Martin County may nominate their favorite Chamber member in each of four categories: large business with more than 15 employees, small business with 15 employees or less, rising star for businesses operating less than three years as of December 2019, and non-profit.

A link to the nomination form will be available by Monday on the Chamber’s website, www.fairmontchamber.org. Deadline for nominations is noon Feb. 3, after which the top nominees in each category will be announced. Voting for the winners will take place in February.

To be considered for a “Business of the Year” award, nominees must be Chamber members in good standing at the time of the nomination and annual banquet. A current directory of Chamber members is available on the website.

Award winners the past two years are not eligible. Recent winners were Hy-Vee and Valero for large business, Slumberland and Culligan for small business, Golden Tie Tuxes and Graffiti Corner for rising star/new business, and Fairmont Opera House and Martin County Historical Society for non-profit.

This is the sixth year the Chamber will present the awards, and the response to the program has grown in popularity. Originally, only businesses were recognized, but the non-profit category was added for the 2016 awards.