The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber is now taking nominations for the 2025 Business Recognition Awards.
Chamber President Arthur Havlicek tells us they’ve given out the awards to the businesses that are making a difference each year since the chamber’s establishment.
“It’s an incredibly important moment for businesses, whether it’s a brand new business or one that’s been established for a while, just to be recognized for how difficult it is to run a business these days, to put products on the market, to keep the lights on, to find employees,” Havlicek said.
There are several awards to be decided. They are the Economic Impact Award, the Small Business of the Year Award, the Non-Profit Excellence Award, the Best New Business Award, and new this year — the Community Placemaking Award, which will go to a Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County community that’s been making efforts to attract new visitors. Havlicek says that contributes to economic development.
“Part of that is making sure that our communities are attractive places, that we’re investing in infrastructure, in parks and trails, beautification efforts. A lot of our communities in Southwest Michigan are super focused on that.”
There are also awards for individuals. They are the Rising Star Award, the Pat Moody Award, and the Ambassador of the Year Award.
Havlicek says once nominees are announced, the awards will be voted on by attendees of the chamber’s 2025 Business Recognition Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on February 22. He says that real time voting has been fun since it started because not even the chamber knows who’s going to win.
