Apply for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards

Your Impact. Your Team. Your Moment.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Businesses may apply for one award in both:

Category 1 and
Category 2

Category 3 awards are reserved for:

Non-profit organizations (Non-Profit Program of the Year)
Government agencies (Government Department/Team of the Year)

The Ben Fogle Chamber Champion of the Year is an individual award and does not count toward a business’s application limit.

But your best foot forward! Read Tips & Tricks for a Stellar Application

ELIGIBILITY AT A GLANCE

Applicants must operate regularly in or be based in Summit County
Open to Summit Chamber members and non-members
Chamber membership is required only for the Ben Fogle Chamber Champion Award
2025 BEA winners may not apply for the same category in 2026, but are encouraged to apply for other awards

Want the deep dive?

Download the General Information Packet. It includes full award descriptions, eligibility requirements, award criteria, and scoring information.

READY TO APPLY?

Ensure you've reviewed the guidelines above
Choose your category(ies) below, then select the appropriate application
Complete all required fields
Save your progress and return anytime
Submit your completed application

⚠️ Important: Saving your application does not submit it.

Be sure to click Submit when finished.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Category 1 - General Awards

New Business of the Year

beLocal Business of the Year

Business Team of the Year

Category 1 & 2 Application

Category 2 - Business of the Year

Small Business of the Year

Medium Business of the Year

Large Business of the Year

Category 1 & 2 Application

Category 3 - Community Champions

Non-Profit Program of the Year

Governmental Department/Team of the Year

Ben Fogle Chamber Champion of the Year

Category 3 Application

DEADLINES

Early Bird Deadline:

Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:59 pm

Early Bird applicants receive feedback to strengthen their submission before final review

Final Application Deadline:

Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm

⚠️ A confirmation email will be sent after submission.

Missed the Early Bird Deadline?

Check out Tips & Tricks for a Stellar Application

NOMINATIONS

Know a deserving business you'd like to give a gentle nudge to?

Nominate them in just a few simple steps:

Select the award category above, and click on the application
Choose “Nominate” when prompted
You’ll only be asked to complete the first 5 questions

We’ll take it from there by contacting the nominee, letting them know you thought they were a great fit, and inviting them to complete the full application.

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