Commerce Lexington Inc.
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Salute to Small Business Awards Application Process

Commerce Lexington Inc. began honoring the contributions that small businesses have on our economy in 1986, and since that very first Salute to Small Business event, the impact of small businesses on the global economy has become more important than ever before.

ELIGIBILITY:
Businesses must be active members of Commerce Lexington Inc.  and have completed three (3) or more full years of operation in the local market with fewer than 150 employees. Small businesses can apply for ONE award category. Past Category and overall Small Business of the Year award recipients are not eligible to reapply for 5 years from the date of their award presentation. APPLICATIONS ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
​

SELECTION PROCESS:
Small business award applicants are judged, and winners are selected for each of the four categories. The names of the category winners are released approximately a month prior to the Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon. The Commerce Lexington Inc. Small Business of the Year is then selected from the category winners (excluding non-profit of the year) and announced at the awards luncheon.

SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS AWARD CATEGORIES:
  • Business Success Award
  • Entrepreneur Award
  • Minority Business Award
  • Nonprofit Community Impact Award
VIDEO: Hear from several recent Small Business of the Year Award winners as
​they talk about what it meant to their business to be recognized by the community.
Copyright © 2025 Commerce Lexington Inc., all rights reserved.
COMMERCE LEXINGTON® and the Commerce Lexington logo are registered trademarks of Commerce Lexington.
330 East Main Street, Suite 100, Lexington, Kentucky, 40507
Phone: (859) 254-4447
  • About
    • Message from the Board Chair
    • President's Message
    • Top Investors
    • Board of Directors
    • Racial Equity Pledge
    • Staff Directory
    • Find Our Offices | Parking
    • NEWS
  • Do Business
    • Business Directory
    • Economic Development
    • Minority Business Development >
      • Minority Business Directory
      • Procurement Opportunities
    • Business & Education Network
    • Resources >
      • Start a Business
      • Relocate a Business
      • Funding & Financing
      • Publications
  • Live & Work
    • Relocation Guide
    • Job Board
    • Getting Around
    • Demographics
    • Cost of Living
    • Lexington History
    • Lexington Rankings
    • Education >
      • Public Education
      • Private Education
    • Health Care
  • Advocacy
    • About Public Policy
    • Regional Plan
    • Your Government >
      • Local
      • State
      • Federal
    • Policy Statements & Key Issues
  • Membership
    • Member Benefits
    • Member Discounts
    • Member News
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • JOIN
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • An Evening With Commerce Lexington
    • International Trip
    • EMERGE >
      • EMERGE Sessions
    • Leadership Visit >
      • Past Trips >
        • Salt Lake City 2024
        • Grand Rapids 2023
        • Tampa-St. Pete 2022
        • Austin 2021
        • Raleigh 2019
      • Impact
    • Regional Summit >
      • Regional Summit Agenda
    • Washington Fly-In
    • Salute to Small Business >
      • Nominate a Business
      • Past Award Winners
  • Connect
    • Become a Member
    • Peer Programming >
      • Business Owners Advisory Boards (BOAB)
      • Peer Groups
    • Emerging Leaders of the Bluegrass
    • Leadership Development >
      • Leadership Lexington >
        • Leadership Lexington Alumni Association
        • Leadership Lexington Projects 2024-25
      • Leadership Central Kentucky >
        • Class Roster
        • LCK Alumni
    • Ambassador Program
  • FOUNDATION