“Small businesses are the true job generators in our community, and they risk a great deal to open their doors, create jobs, grow and stimulate our economy,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “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.”

WAILUKU – The Maui County Office of Economic Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce last week announced the nominees for the upcoming 2016 Mayor’s Small Business Awards.

The nominees are: Angela Leone, B.B. Trucking & Storage Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui Inc., Castaway Construction & Restoration, Coconut Condos, Danielle Miller, Family Life Center Inc., Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui Inc., Hui No Ke Ola Pono Inc., Hui No’eau Visual Arts Center, Imua Family Services, John and Megan Franks, Jonathan Miller, Joshua Porter, Ka Lima O Maui Ltd., Kealopiko, Kenneth Enriques, Kupu A’e Molokai LLC, Lifestyle Inc. dba Lifestyle Maui, Loren R. Osborn, Lorrie Betsill, Management Consultants Hawaii, Maui Printing Company Inc., Maui’s Angels Destination Weddings and Events, Maui Arbor Scape, Maui Computer Care Inc., Maui Land Broker and Property Management Inc., Maui Oma Coffee Roasting Co. Inc., Michael and Cheryl Rock, Mid Pacific Pest Control Inc., Pacific Asphalt & Maintenance Inc., Poi by the Pound, Rick and Kim Herrera, Skullbase, Three’s Catering LLC dba Three’s Bar & Grill, and Wet Geckos LLC dba Urgent Care Wailea Makena.

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.

All nominees and winners will be honored at an awards dinner on Tuesday, March 1, at the Waikapu Ballroom of the King Kamehameha Golf Club. Tickets are available to the public at $70 and can be purchased by calling the Maui Chamber of Commerce at (808) 244-0081.

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.”

For more information, contact the Maui County Business Resource Center at 270-5767 or the Maui Chamber of Commerce at 244-0081.