Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
Is there a business that you think has done exceptional work in the last year? Nominations for the 2026 Bedford Chamber of Commerce Awards are open through July 27.
The chamber is asking the public to suggest winners for four different awards: business beautification, community service, small business of the year and non-profit of the year.
“I think sometimes we’re kind of a humble community and we don’t brag on ourselves enough,” Bedford Chamber of Commerce membership and communications director Sally Miller said. “So, this gives our members an opportunity to brag on each other or to nominate themselves when they see good things happening within their business.”
The business beautification award is for a business that has made improvements to its physical appearance. In the nomination, a description of the changes and images documenting it are suggested.
Decided by the past five years’ winners, the community service award is for someone who has gone above and beyond in the community. Nominations should include the person’s work and examples of volunteering.
“We want those nominations to come in rather quickly so that our five past community service award winners have the time to look through them and make a good choice,” Miller said.
The small business of the year award is for a business with less than 100 staff that has significantly grown or played a role in growing the community. The non-profit of the year award goes to a non-profit that “has made significant strides in the past year to successfully address its mission while enriching lives in Lawrence County for the better.”
Recipients of the awards are limited to business that are chamber members, but you do not need to be to nominate someone for the award. Nominations can be submitted through a google form on the chamber of commerce’s website.
Awards will be presented at the 110th Annual Chamber Dinner on August 20, following social hour, dinner and a keynote speech by Dr. Joe Spires— a local endodontist, entrepreneur and professional body builder. Winners will receive a crystal, tabletop award and be recognized on the chamber’s Facebook page.
Tickets can be purchased individually, or attendees can purchase a table for eight. The dinner is not limited to only chamber members; it is open to the public.
“Our goal as a chamber is to help businesses grow and succeed. So, we want to make sure that we’re recognizing those folks when at all possible,” Miller said, “but, what we need is nominations.”