Business development organization Market One is announcing the fifth annual Market One Awards, a set of awards reserved exclusively for the organizations in Cass and Van Buren County that are leading the way toward a stronger local economy.
Market One is seeking nominations from the public for the Best New Business of the Year awards from February 12 to March 10. Two awards will be available: one to recognize a business from Cass County and another to recognize a business from Van Buren County.
“Each year, the Market One Awards celebrate small businesses who make our communities vibrant,” said Zach Morris, Executive Director of Market One. “Starting a business takes courage and tenacity. We want to celebrate the risk takers who work to grow the economic future of Cass and Van Buren Counties.”
The Best New Business Award is reserved for businesses that have been in operation for two years or less beginning on January 1, 2025, and produce a product or provide a service in Cass or Van Buren County. A strong candidate will exhibit excellence in some or all of the following: strategic planning, employee development, community involvement, and customer service. Nominations for the Best New Business can be made here.
Self-nominations are both accepted and encouraged. The total number of unique, high-quality nominations originating from community members will be considered in selecting the winner; nominations with identical responses will not be accepted as they will be considered ballot stuffing. The full set of nomination rules on Market One’s website can be found here.
Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on March 10, 2024. Eligible nominees will be invited to continue in the awards process in March. The Market One Board of Directors will then select the winners, and there will be a ceremony to honor the award winners in June. For questions regarding the Best New Business Awards, please reach out to Julia Wall at WallJ@MarketOne.org.
Last year, the 2024 Best New Business of the Year award for Van Buren County went to Kitchen Tribes of South Haven, Michigan and Divine Dough Co. of Edwardsburg, Michigan.
About Market One
Market One is a nonprofit focused on connecting people, investments, and organizations with strategies and services that improve the quality of life and economic conditions in Cass and Van Buren counties. Its staff focuses on developing strategies that will allow communities to thrive by addressing needs related to workforce, community, and business development. For more information, visit www.marketone.org
