Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts 19th Annual Awards of Excellence

The Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their 19th annual Awards of Excellence last Tuesday, celebrating small businesses across Bemidji.

The ceremony featured a number of different categories, like New Business of the Year, which went to Merry Piglets, a gift shop in downtown Bemidji. Entrepreneur of the Year went to Kevin Johnson of myBemidji, The Healthy Workplace award was given to Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, and Northwoods Battered Women’s Shelter was recognized with the Community Impact award.

The final award of the night, Business of the Year, went to The Design Store: Carpet One Floor & Home.

“We have so many great businesses in our community that it just feels natural that we should acknowledge that and celebrate that they’re doing a lot of hard work,” said Scott Turn, Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, ” and you know, these days they’re probably doing a lot of hard work with less people, and we want to identify all the good things they’re doing.”