Allyson Beauregard
Allyson Beauregard
Two Pontiac organizations, the Pontiac Journal and the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, are once again giving Pontiac residents the opportunity to nominate their favourite businesses or businesspeople to recognize them for hard work, dedication and exceptional service. What better way to highlight and reward local businesses and business people for a job well done and thank them for their hard work?
In its fifth year, the PCC Business Achievement Awards will highlight
winning businesses and entrepreneurs at their Awards Gala in October; there are 10 categories to choose from and nominations forms are available
on their website or by contacting the PCC directly.
The public can also nominate businesses for the fourth annual Pontiac Journal Readers’ Choice Awards by clipping out the nomination form in the Journal (see page 9) and mailing it to the Journal’s office or by going
on-line to www.pontiacjournal.com, clicking the link to the on-line form and sending your votes in electronically. There are 36 categories to choose from, ranging from Best Homemade Soup to Best Hair Salon to Best overall customer service. There are also some new categories to recognize even more businesses and businesspeople including Best Wrap, Best Accountant, Best Annual Event, Best Place for Hunting\Fishing\Outfitter and your Overall Favourite Place to Shop.
Methods of recognizing local businesses like these are very important for small communities like our own. With a relatively small population, a low average income in our area, and large commercial stores right across the bridge, making a living and surviving here as a business is very tough. It’s essential that we highlight, congratulate, and reward those who are able to hold on and persevere though the hard times.
Not only does it give the nominated business a moment in the spotlight to honour their hard work and dedication, it reassures them their work has paid off and that they’re steering their business in the right direction. It encourages them to continue.
In highlighting these businesses and entrepreneurs, there is also the possibility they will gain new customers from our local community, and possibly from readers outside our communities. Recognizing a business tells others what exceptional services and products are available right at our door steps in our home towns. If locals are made aware that good quality, reasonably-priced services and merchandise are available close to home they may choose to shop here instead of travelling elsewhere.
The polls are open and all residents are encouraged to cast their votes. Supporting, highlighting and honouring local businesses and entrepreneurs is essential for our communities’ survival – when our local businesses and businesspeople succeed, we all benefit from their success.
