Substance over Size in This Award Program

How do you define a small business? The federal government has varying definitions, the most common being 100 or 500 employees, based on the program or agency. Others will attach different numbers, depending on their industry or motivation. At the Indiana Chamber, 250 or fewer is the magic number for nominees for the annual Small Business of the Year award.

But it’s not the employee count that is critical. It’s what those workers and the management of the organization do that makes a difference. It’s company performance, committment to those employees and community involvement that are among the factors judged.

The two most recent winners are highly successful AIT Laboratories (which has zoomed out of the small business category with its continued growth and expansion) and POLARIS Laboratories (both recognized on the inaugural Indiana Companies to Watch list and their chief executives part of a BizVoice roundtable conversation in the current issue on entrepreneurs and leadership).  

There are many outstanding small business stories out there. Nominate your organization, recommend it to someone else — just get involved. The details are on this nomination form. The deadline to apply is September 30. The award will be presented November 10 at the Indiana Convention Center as part of the Chamber’s annual membership meeting awards luncheon.

Chamber Offers Small Business Salute

Big dominates the headlines these days — big as in bad economic news, or companies and large numbers of employees being impacted by the economy. Today, however, was a time to focus on small businesses with a much more positive story to tell. The Indiana Chamber’s Small Business Awards luncheon recognizes small companies making a difference and those advocating on their behalf.

AIT Laboratories of Indianapolis was recognized as the 2009 Small Business of the Year. The Chamber’s BizVoice magazine recently profiled the fast-growing health care testing and research firm. The finalists and semifinalists were a statewide collection of companies making a difference for their employees and in their communities.

Small Business Champions are legislators who have worked to help improve the business climate for these and other organizations. Honored were senators Connie Lawson (R-Danville) and Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington), and representatives Jeb Bardon (D-Indianapolis), Richard Dodge (R-Pleasant Lake) and Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville).

Congratulations to the winners and all recognized on this day to reward small business success. Read all about it.