The Kentucky Small Business Development Center is accepting nominations for the annual Pacesetter Business Recognition Program. The program will recognize businesses that are changing the economic landscape of Kentucky by introducing innovative products; increasing sales and/or production; boosting employment; and, serving the communities of the Commonwealth.
The recognition program is designed to honor high performing, second-stage businesses that are privately held and have been in business for three or more years. Companies that meet the following minimum qualifications are encouraged to apply:
- Employ six or more full-time equivalent employees, including the owner
- Sales meeting or exceeding $500,000.00
- Headquartered in
- Demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow based on evidence, such as:
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- Employee or sales growth
- Exceptional entrepreneurial leadership
- Sustainable competitive advantage
- Other notable factors that showcase the company’s success
- Employee or sales growth
Nomination forms are available on the homepage of www.ksbdc.org [4]. Any third party who is associated with a successful second-stage business is encouraged to submit a nomination form. Additionally, companies may self nominate. All nominations are due by December 31, 2008.
Winners will be recognized in front of government leaders and small business owners at the Kentucky Celebrates Small Business event being held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort. Winners will receive an award inscribed with their company’s name, a profile of their company in a full-color commemorative program magazine and an invitation to an exclusive luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion.
Twelve successful businesses located throughout Kentucky were inducted as 2008 Pacesetters. These honorees include: Big Meadow Oil Company, Custom Tool & Manufacturing Company, Hitcents Inc., Interstate Natural Gas Company, Lawrence &Associates, LCM Company, Oscarware Inc., Pendleton Data Farm, SouthEast Telephone, The Gallaher Group, Twin Rivers Inc., and Walbert Trucking Inc.
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center, housed at the University of Kentucky’s Office of Commercialization and Economic Development, is a network of 17 service centers located throughout the Commonwealth that help existing and start-up businesses succeed by offering high quality, in-depth and hands-on services. These services include: no-cost confidential business consultations, affordable business workshops and seminars, research to make informed business decisions and valuable resources.