The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of their Annual 2019 Business and Community Awards.  In an attempt to help promote October as “Chamber of Commerce” month, the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce will hold a special awards luncheon, sponsored by Community Bank, NA, to recognize the winners of the awards.  The luncheon will take place on Thursday, October 24^th at 11:45 am at Four Blooms Restaurant in Drums.  The cost of the luncheon is $25 per person. Reservations are required by Monday, October 21^st by registering online, calling the Chamber at 455-1509 or emailing .

Winning the 2019 Small Business of the Year Awards, sponsored by the 2006 recipient, Comfort Keepers is for under ten employees, Maria Rosario Allstate Agency and under fifty employees,  Edgewood. The purpose of these awards is to show appreciation and recognition to small businesses in the Greater Hazleton Area and promote the importance of small businesses to the economy and welfare of the entire community. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that has no more than 50 full-time employees and is located in the Greater Hazleton area. Judging was based on staying power, growth, community contribution, and overall management philosophy.

The 2019 Large Business of the Year Award, sponsored by the 2009 recipient, Gottstein Corporation is Karchner Logistics. The purpose of the award is to show appreciation and recognition to a large business in the Greater Hazleton and promote the importance of large businesses to the economy and welfare of the community. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that has more than 50 full-time employees and is located in the Greater Hazleton Area. Judging was based on staying power, growth, community contribution, and overall management philosophy.

The 2019 winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award in memory of Rocco Colangelo Sr., sponsored by Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center at Hazleton is Pat Korb. The purpose of this award is to extend appreciation to and honor an individual volunteer or volunteers within the Greater Hazleton Area and to promote the importance of volunteerism to the community at large. Eligible applicants included any resident of the Greater Hazleton Area that participates in volunteer work or community service not required by their place of employment.

The 2019 winners of the Pride of Place Awards, sponsored by Tri-Mountain Ventures is Small Business category – OneGroup Dryfoos Insurance and Large Business category – Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton. The purpose of this award is to recognize local businesses or organizations whose exterior property physically improves or enhances the community and environment in the Greater Hazleton Area. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business that was located in the Greater Hazleton Area, and the structure must be a commercial or public building.

The 2019 Healthy Workplace of the Year winner, sponsored by the 2006 recipient,

Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton, is International Paper – Hazleton Container. The purpose of this award is to recognize a business in the Greater Hazleton Area who is adopting wellness practices into their workplace. Eligible applicants included any Chamber member business located within the Greater Hazleton Area and judging was based on strength and creativity of their workplace wellness initiatives.

The 2019 Green Business of the Year winners, sponsored by the 2010 recipient, George J. Hayden, Inc. are American Eagle Solutions and Country Heart Farm. The purpose of these awards is to recognize local businesses or organizations who are adopting “green initiatives” within their workplace.

The 2019 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner, sponsored by CAN BE is Ashley Evert, owner of Halogen Hair Co.  The purpose of this award is to promote the development of future business owners and operators in Greater Hazleton.

According to John Patton, Chamber Board member and Awards Program Chairman, “We have initiated these awards to highlight businesses that are located in the Greater Hazleton Area, and to recognize the important role that volunteers play in our community.  The judging was extremely difficult with many excellent applicants in each category.  However, I feel that the judges made excellent choices with the above-mentioned winners.”

In addition to the business and community awards, the women’s networking committee will be awarding the recipients of their annual Women’s Empowerment Grants. This grant was established to encourage women to pursue training or education that will help them start or advance a career. The target of the grant is women who: are currently working and want to advance in their career through education or training; are returning to the workforce; are seeking to change their current career path and pursue something more in line with their interests or passions and it is intended to be available to those who would not necessarily have access to scholarships or grants. For 2019 the committee distributed grants totaling $2,900. Melanie Mejia was awarded $2,150 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor degree in Engineering at Penn State Hazleton. And Morgan Cassano was awarded $750 and is currently pursuing a Licensed Practical Nurse degree at Penn State Hazleton.  The funds are raised at events coordinated through the Chamber’s women’s networking committee throughout the year, in addition to funding provided by PPL, who has been a supporter of this grant fund, since its inception. The Women’s Networking committee as well as any business woman from throughout Greater Hazleton is encouraged to attend to show their support of this years recipients.