Salute to Small Business
PRESENTED BY:
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.
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2020:
Commerce Lexington Inc. has not only streamlined the Salute to Small Business Awards application with a completely on-line format, removing some redundancy and allowing for better descriptions of the success of the business, but has also reduced the number of award categories from eight to four. In addition, the number of employees for a business to be considered has been increased to under 150 employees (full-time or some combination of full- and part-time as indicated in the awards application).
ELIGIBILITY:
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. The Overall Small Business of the Year then has the opportunity to apply for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration with the assistance of the Bluegrass Small Business Development Center.
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2020:
Commerce Lexington Inc. has not only streamlined the Salute to Small Business Awards application with a completely on-line format, removing some redundancy and allowing for better descriptions of the success of the business, but has also reduced the number of award categories from eight to four. In addition, the number of employees for a business to be considered has been increased to under 150 employees (full-time or some combination of full- and part-time as indicated in the awards application).
ELIGIBILITY:
- Businesses must be active members of Commerce Lexington Inc.
- Businesses must 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. The Overall Small Business of the Year then has the opportunity to apply for state and national recognition through the U.S. Small Business Administration with the assistance of the Bluegrass Small Business Development Center.
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Community Trust Bank
GOLD SPONSORS
Central Bank & Trust Co.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader & Kentucky.com)
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI)
Community Trust Bank
GOLD SPONSORS
Central Bank & Trust Co.
Columbia Gas of Kentucky
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader & Kentucky.com)
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance (KEMI)
SILVER SPONSORS
Bankers Title of Central Kentucky
Bryant's Rent-All, Inc.
Cumberland Valley National Bank
MCM CPAs & Advisors
TravelHost of the Bluegrass
U.S. Bank
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS
AMR Lexington
BACK Construction
Hurst Business Supply and Office Furniture
Precision Duplicating Solutions
INVITATION, PROGRAM & SIGNAGE DESIGN
Stablemate Creative LLC
PRINT SPONSOR
Lynn Imaging/Monster Color
Bankers Title of Central Kentucky
Bryant's Rent-All, Inc.
Cumberland Valley National Bank
MCM CPAs & Advisors
TravelHost of the Bluegrass
U.S. Bank
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS
AMR Lexington
BACK Construction
Hurst Business Supply and Office Furniture
Precision Duplicating Solutions
INVITATION, PROGRAM & SIGNAGE DESIGN
Stablemate Creative LLC
PRINT SPONSOR
Lynn Imaging/Monster Color
Hallway Feeds Named 2019 Small Business of the Year
[Lexington, Ky.] – At the Commerce Lexington Inc. Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon at Keeneland presented by Forcht Bank, Hallway Feeds was named the 2019 Small Business of the Year. The recipient of this year’s award in the Business Success Category, Hallway Feeds was chosen for the honor from six different category winners.
When Bob Hall and his late wife, Bonnie, purchased a small feed business in Lexington called Farmers Feed Mill in 1964, the foundation for the company was focused on exceptional customer service, and that mantra continues today. As Lexington evolved, so too did Farmers Feed Mill by introducing the Hallway Feeds brand to supply Thoroughbred farms with the highest quality, custom-manufactured feeds. Shortly thereafter, Hallway Feeds moved to a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facility on West Loudon Avenue, where it is currently located.
Hallway Feeds is now the only family-owned and operated feed company dedicated to the equine industry, and its signature products are distributed throughout Central Kentucky, the United States and approximately 12 countries worldwide. Many of the most prominent breeding operations, Hall of Fame trainers and international venues rely upon Hallway Feeds. In fact, it has fed 13 of the last 21 Kentucky Derby winners, including the most recent Triple Crown winners, American Pharaoh and Justify.
Commerce Lexington Inc. began its small business awards program in 1986, recognizing 102 outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations since its inception. This year’s category award winners together have 180 years of service to our community.
When Bob Hall and his late wife, Bonnie, purchased a small feed business in Lexington called Farmers Feed Mill in 1964, the foundation for the company was focused on exceptional customer service, and that mantra continues today. As Lexington evolved, so too did Farmers Feed Mill by introducing the Hallway Feeds brand to supply Thoroughbred farms with the highest quality, custom-manufactured feeds. Shortly thereafter, Hallway Feeds moved to a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facility on West Loudon Avenue, where it is currently located.
Hallway Feeds is now the only family-owned and operated feed company dedicated to the equine industry, and its signature products are distributed throughout Central Kentucky, the United States and approximately 12 countries worldwide. Many of the most prominent breeding operations, Hall of Fame trainers and international venues rely upon Hallway Feeds. In fact, it has fed 13 of the last 21 Kentucky Derby winners, including the most recent Triple Crown winners, American Pharaoh and Justify.
Commerce Lexington Inc. began its small business awards program in 1986, recognizing 102 outstanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations since its inception. This year’s category award winners together have 180 years of service to our community.
