Nominate an Outstanding Business for the 2026 Celebrate Business Awards
Please join the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate Lincoln’s outstanding business community at the Celebrate Business Awards Event. In order to help the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce select the best companies of 2026, please nominate a business for one of the following awards below.
CORNERSTONE AWARD
The Cornerstone Award is intended to honor a business which demonstrates leadership in the community. The award recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit of those who take risks and make investment in time and money to grow firms in our city. The Cornerstone Award is intended to honor the outstanding business of the year in Lincoln. It is not restricted in size or ownership beyond the criteria provided. The Cornerstone Award winner can be a winner in another category as well.
THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Principal ownership in Lincoln or have a substantial local presence
- A leader in providing innovative customer driven services
- Civic leadership must be shown through giving to the betterment of Lincoln
- Provide an atmosphere which gives their employees maximum opportunities for growth
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
The Manufacturer of the Year award serves to bring attention to Lincoln’s manufacturing community and the contributions made both economically and socially. An award of excellence will be presented to one outstanding manufacturing company that demonstrates forward thinking in product development utilizing technology and innovation. Honorees should exhibit leadership and a strong commitment the City of Lincoln. Individuals may nominate their company or another manufacturer for this honor.
ELIGIBLE FIRMS MUST ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING AS PART OF ITS APPLICATION:
- Include a brief company history
- Describe major products that are manufactured at the facility – highlighting products in the last three years that focus on innovation and technological advances
- Give an overview of the process and operational excellence – commitment to continuous improvement, utilization on technology
- Describe your management philosophy and your ability to find creative solutions to challenges that raise or enhance the industry standard
- How has this company contributed to the overall community
- How has the nominee demonstrated support and dedication to the manufacturing community
- Additional information - supplemental materials (annual reports, brochures, testimonials, news clips, etc.)
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Small Business of the Year Award is intended to honor that business which best exemplifies the spirit of free enterprise in Lincoln. The winner should provide an example of the rewards offered by the free enterprise system by risk taking, being innovative and strengthening community spirit.
ELIGIBLE FIRMS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- A for-profit enterprise
- Employ 50 or fewer full time equivalent employees
- Principal ownership in Lincoln or have a substantial local presence in the community
- Innovative and customer driven
- Civic leadership must be shown through giving to the betterment of Lincoln
- Provide an atmosphere which gives their employees maximum opportunities for growth
- Must show a minimum of 15% increase in annual gross sales or income
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The Tourism Development Award recognizes the person or attraction that has exemplified creativity in the development of the tourism industry.
ELIGIBLE FIRMS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Leader in the Industry
- Demonstrated vision and commitment in developing the tourism industry
- Demonstrates a positive economic impact on the community
GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Green Business of the Year Award is designed to honor a business that meets high environmental standards and has gone beyond local, state and federal environmental regulations to create an environmentally friendly business. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling activities. This award is given to businesses who adopt principles and practices that improve the quality of life for its customers, employees, communities and the environment.
ELIGIBLE FIRMS MUST:
- Be in compliance with all local, state and federal environmental regulations
- Have an established waste reduction, pollution prevention and/or recycling program in place
- Have reduced the amount of waste sent to the landfill and/or
- Have reduced and or eliminated the use of toxic chemicals in processes and/or
- Have prevented pollution and waste from being created.
- Create a more environmentally sustainable economy
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award recognizes the person or company that has exemplified creativity in the development of enterprise in Lincoln.
ELIGIBLE FIRMS MUST:
- The entrepreneur has an enthusiastic vision, the driving force of an enterprise
- Demonstrate a clear commitment to doing business in Lincoln
- Produce a positive impact on the local economy
- Either export goods or services outside Lincoln or provide a viable alternative to importing goods or services into Lincoln