WAILUKU – The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce announced that nominations are now being accepted for the Mayor’s Small Business Awards in 2015.

All finalists and winners will be honored at an awards dinner on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Waikapu Ballroom of the King Kamehameha Golf Club.

The Mayor’s Small Business Awards recognize outstanding businesses in our community that have 100 or fewer employees and have had a Hawaii General Excise Tax license for no less than two years.

Other criteria include demonstrating business leadership in a changing economic environment, creating a quality work environment for their employees, exhibiting the aloha spirit and exemplary customer service, developing partnerships with other sectors of the community, and demonstrating other exceptional qualities or traits.

This year’s event includes the following six award categories: Exceptional Small Business of the Year for ten or fewer employees, 11 to 35 employees, and 36 to 100 employees; Outstanding Nonprofit Business (100 or fewer employees); Young Small Business Person of the Year (under age 40 as of Feb. 26, 2015); and Lifetime Achievement Award for any individual doing business in Maui County for more than 20 years, with no employee size limitation.

“Maui County is fortunate to have many successful small businesses that are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and ingenuity. I look forward to honoring them through these awards and to sharing their resilience and resourcefulness with others as shining examples of the strength of our community,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa.

Chamber President Pamela Tumpap praised Maui’s small businesses as being at “the heart of our community.”

“They have gone through a lot these past few years to still be standing,” she noted. “We look forward to giving them well-deserved credit and honoring their tremendous accomplishments and investment in our community with Mayor Arakawa and his team.”

Completed nomination packets must be received at the Maui County Business Resource Center at Maui Mall on or before noon on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015.

Only those entries received on or before the deadline will be considered. Submittals must include the nomination form, nomination criteria form, one typewritten letter of recommendation from other sources, and a high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) digital photograph of the nominee.

No self or employer nominations will be accepted.

Nomination forms are available online at www.mauicounty.gov/MCBRC and www.mauichamber.com.

Paper copies may be picked up at the Maui County Business Resource Center at Maui Mall, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, and American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, and First Hawaiian Bank branches.

For more information about nominations, available sponsorships or event ticket purchases, call 873-8247 or 244-0081.