By: Deborah Johnson Wood
After a flurry of last-minute nominations, Rebekka Kwast, program coordinator for Neighborhood Ventures, reports that more than 80 businesses are now in the running for the 18th annual Neighborhood Business Awards. Neighborhood Ventures and the Neighborhood Business Alliance sponsor the awards, which recognize outstanding Grand Rapids neighborhood businesses in 11 separate categories.
The nominations represent neighborhood business districts (business districts outside Center City's core) from all over the city, including Wealthy Street, Creston, Seymour Square, Franklin/Eastern, West Fulton, West Leonard, and Heartside.
Nominees range from businesses opened just weeks ago, like David and Bathsheba in East Hills, to longstanding businesses like Boston Square's Mahogany Island of Beauty and Ferris Coffee & Nut in Stockbridge.
Winners receive recognition for their ingenuity, building renovation/improvements, and the creative use of signs, awnings, and window displays. The John H. Logie Award recognizes an individual for his or her community contributions to the betterment of the community at large.
The categories are:
- Best New Business
- Best Longstanding Business
- Best Interior Renovation
- Best Promotional Event
- Best New Construction
- Best Reuse of Building
- Best Exterior Renovation
- Best Use of Sign or Awning
- Best Window Display
- Best Exterior Maintenance
- John H. Logie Neighborhood Business Champion
Winners will be announced at a gala event from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. November 8, 2007 at the Wealthy Street Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.
Stay tuned to Rapid Growth over the coming weeks for a series of Development News articles on the categories and nominations, and for the opportunity to vote online for your favorites.
Source: Rebekka Kwast, Neighborhood Ventures
Photograph of Marie Catrib's Restaurant by Brian Kelly
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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