Nominations ending for Excellence in Business honors

Thursday is the deadline to nominate the community’s best businesses and their owners for the Merced Sun-Star’s new Excellence in Business program.

The program, launched last month, will grant eight awards to area businesses, and one person in the community will receive the Hall of Fame award. Winners will be announced July 29 in the Sun-Star.

A special section highlighting each winner will be published in the newspaper on Sept. 24.

A luncheon to honor the winners will be held Sept. 24 at Hilmar Cheese Co. Inc.

Honors will be awarded for: agribusiness; charities/nonprofits; finance/banking/insurance; health care; manufacturing; professional services; real estate/development; and small business, defined as having fewer than 50 employees.

Nominees will be judged on: high ethical standards in business and professional dealings; success/growth; employee/customer service; service to the community; and concern for the environment.

To nominate a business or to nominate a person for the Hall of Fame award, click here or visit the Sun-Star website at www.mercedsunstar.com/business.

This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Nominations ending for Excellence in Business honors."