Chamber News

2024 Rising Star/Legacy Award

The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to issue a call for submissions for it's annual Rising Star Start-Up Award Investing in Entrepreneurs provided in partnership with several of its members to offer support to a budding entrepreneur.

This award will be presented in October during the Chamber’s Small Business Week Awards Luncheon to assist the recipient in taking their venture to the next level.

Its purpose is to identify a viable start-up – a business that is just beginning to develop, located within Truro and Colchester region – and provide it with a $2,500 cash prize as well as in-kind supports, products, and services, from partnering member businesses.

Criteria:

To qualify, the applicant must live and operate their business within the Truro & Colchester Region. This award is open to an individual or partners with a business idea that needs capital and professional support. All entrepreneurs applying must be able to demonstrate the impact of their current business offerings, giving a unique edge on the competition. Further, they must demonstrate how the grant money & support service will have a meaningful impact on business growth and job creation in the local area.

Selection Process:

The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce will appoint an internal preliminary adjudication committee to review submissions consisting of the Chamber Board of Directors and members, which determines the eligibility of each nominee. Submissions will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to present to a judging panel consisting of Chamber members and/or representatives from sponsoring partners.

Applicants/nominees understand and agree that merely by applying for these Awards does not entitle the applicant/nominee to any other form of consideration.

The decision of the Chamber-appointed judging panel on all matters is final and binding on all applicants/nominees and no correspondence will be entertained on the same.

The Chamber reserves the right to withdraw or amend the terms of the Awards at any time and does not take responsibility for any loss or damage that any person/organization / Applicant / Nominee may suffer as a result of the Awards being withdrawn or its terms amended.

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by Lisa Matthews

2024 Small Business Awards

Small Business Week Awards – October 24th, Inn on Prince

*All Nominees will be contacted to fill out a questionnaire from the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce that will be used by the panel of judges to determine the award recipient.  All responses will be kept strictly confidential.

2024 Small Business Award nominations are currently being accepted in the following categories:

Note: Qualifying businesses must employ less than 100 people.

Criteria: The New Small Business of the Year award recognizes a Truro or Colchester County business person whose dream of opening their own business has earned them the title of “Start-Up Entrepreneur” over the past year. Their business must have shown innovation, and they must offer a unique product or service to Truro and Colchester County.

 

Criteria: The Small Business Achievement Award recognizes a local entrepreneur who has been in business for more than 10 years and demonstrates new product or service achievements, business growth and a commitment to their community.

 

Criteria: The Exporter of the Year award will recognize a Truro or Colchester County business that has demonstrated excellence in exporting outside Nova Scotia. The business must have achieved noticeable growth as a result of entering the global marketplace and has made a significant contribution to the growth of the local economy.

Criteria: The Small Business Innovation Award will recognize a Truro or Colchester County entrepreneur who has been in business for more than five years, continually modifying to demonstrate innovative leadership through technology, development of new or value-added products and services and improved productivity. Those nominated for this innovation award portray community spirit and generosity towards clients past, present and future by consistently supporting community causes and grow employment in the local area.

  

Criteria: The Excellence in Community Development award will recognize a business or social enterprise that has made significant and notable contributions to its community (cultural, social, environmental and/or economic) and that serves as a catalyst for positive action, exhibiting the highest standards of leadership. 

 

Criteria: Recognizes an individual, group or organization or business where the principles of running a successful agricultural or related operation are applied and result in a thriving and environmentally friendly endeavor. The enterprise must derive more than 50 percent of its annual revenue from agricultural-related activities.

Recognizes a business that has been in operation for more than two years, demonstrating growth in a measurable way such as expansion, increased customers, new employees, and new products.

 This award recognizes a small business employee that goes above and beyond in their job duties. The employee delivers excellent customer service, engages in professional development and places a high level of importance on corporate culture, teamwork and ensuring a happy and healthy work environment.

Honors an outstanding business with 1 – 20 full-time employees that demonstrates commitment to performance excellence in their business or industry and embodies the spirit of the business community. Must be an independently-owned business for at least 3 years. Recognizes outstanding achievement in some or all of the following: Research & Development, Company Growth, Customer Service, Products & Services, Market Development, Sales & Marketing, and Community Service. The nominee must be a registered business operating in Colchester County.

This award recognizes the contribution to the local economy by a business that has opened in Truro or Colchester County by an individual who has moved to the community in recent years and is not an original resident of this region.

This award recognizes an individual, group, organization or business operating in Central Nova Scotia where the principles of running successful tourism or related operation are applied and result in a thriving attractive business for visitors. The enterprise must derive more than 50 percent of its annual revenue from tourism-related activities.

This award recognizes a business that keeps environmental stewardship at the forefront of its operations. They keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them, and then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. Their focus on environmental stewardship may reduce waste, drive greater resource productivity, address emerging resource security/scarcity issues in the future, while implementing a plan to extract the maximum value and use from raw materials, products and waste, fostering energy savings and reducing Green House Gas emissions.

 

This award celebrates a business or non-profit organization operating within Truro-Colchester area, working to advance a more accessible, equitable, diverse and inclusive business community. This award recognizes the transformative efforts and dedication of a local business that embeds the importance of promotion and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, economic reconciliation and accessibility in work environments for staff, stakeholders and clients. This business or organization exemplifies leadership in fostering excellence in achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

 

Nomination forms are also available from the chamber office at 105B Walker Street, Truro and online at www.trurocolchesterchamber.com 

Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 15, 2024

When will the awards be presented?

The award luncheon will be held at Inn on Prince on October 24th, 2024

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by Lisa Matthews