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Nominate Now for the 2026 Community Awards
The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor those who contribute to building our business and community. Awards will be presented in 8 categories, including Outstanding businesses and leaders (large & small), Educator, Chamber Ambassador, Community Volunteer, Community Hero, Non-profit organization, and Service with a Smalley award
See below for each Award Cateogry nomination criteria and nomination link.
Please allow yourself 15-25 minutes to complete the nomination form and have all the information about the nominee available when you complete the form. The Community Award Selection Council relies on only the data they are given when rating the nomination forms. The Community Award Selection Council is comprised of past winners. Thank you for taking the time to give back!Awards will be presented at the Community Awards Gala on March 6, 2026
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Community Awards: The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor those who contribute to building our business and community. Awards will be presented in eight categories, including Outstanding businesses and leaders (large & small), Educator, Chamber Ambassador, Community Volunteer, Community Hero, Non-profit organization, and Service with a Smalley award!
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Fundraising Activities: Get ready for a night of fundraising fun, featuring LIVE Auction Items, Raffles, a Wine Pull, and a Gift Card Tree!
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Entertainment: Our evening Emcee and Live Auctioneer will keep the excitement going throughout the event.
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Sponsorship Opportunities: You can support the event by sponsoring the 2026 Community Awards Gala.
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Open to the Public: This event is open to everyone in the community. We encourage you to embrace the theme and dress in cocktail or themed attire to add to the excitement of the night.
This fundraising event is brought to you by the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce Foundation
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. COCKTAIL OR THEME ATTIRE ENCOURAGED.Chamber Ambassador of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Chamber Ambassador of the Year:
- Actively advocates for the Chamber and its Foundation, contributing to membership growth
- Enhances Chamber events through consistent attendance and meaningful engagement with member
- Promotes the Chamber’s mission and presence throughout the communit
- Volunteers time and talent at Chamber-hosted events and serves on event planning committees
Behind the Badge Hero of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Behind the Badge Hero of the Year:
- Advocates to increase and promote opportunities for safety, best practices, and resources
- Enriches others through the services they provide
- Promotes the collective interests, passions and well-being of our community
- Serves groups and individuals leading to a larger community impact
Examples for consideration of the Hero Award: EMT, fire, medical, military, police, nurses, elected officials, and community leaders
NOMINATE for Behind the Badge AwardEducator of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Educator of the Year:
- Teacher or administrator in District 834
- Advocates for exceptional student outcomes
- Enriches the lives of students through positive influence
- Promotes educational accomplishment beyond the classroom providing models of excellence
- Serves as a teacher, administrator a public, private or charter school
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Large Business of the Year:Large Business of the Year
- Large business consists of 13+ employees within the organization
- Advocates for company innovation, social responsibility, employee relations and workplace cultural excellence
- Enriches our community as a quality employer, providing professional development to their team
- Promotes involvement in a broad range of our community economic development activities
- Serves as a state-wide role model of exemplary business ethics
Non-Profit of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Non-Profit of the Year:
- Advocates for strategic partnerships, to achieve greater results than one organization could achieve on its own
- Enriches credibility of mission through compliance with standards for management and transparency
- Promotes innovative approaches and implementations to meet its mission and goals
- Serves the community and its target audience with pride and results
Service with a Smalley Hospitality of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Service with a Smalley Hospitality of the Year:
- The nominated business must be a restaurant or a bar.
- Advocates for the best customer experience by making their patrons feel special, taken care of, and well looked after while enjoying the experience of the business being provided.
- Serves as a role model of exemplary amenable services in all aspects of hospitality.
NOMINATE for the Service with a Smalley Hospitality of the Year
Small Business of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Small Business of the Year Award:
- Small business consists of 1-12 employees within the organization
- Advocates for company innovation, social responsibility, employee relations and workplace cultural excellence
- Enriches our community providing products and/or services that fulfill a local need
- Promotes involvement in local community economic development activities
- Serves as a role model of exemplary business ethics
Volunteer of the Year
The following criteria will be evaluated for the consideration of the Community Volunteer of the Year Award:
- Advocates for non-profits, community events, fundraisers and good causes in our community
- Enriches our community by serving as a volunteer
- Promotes innovative or exemplary approaches in performing volunteer service
- Serves one or many organizations as a volunteer in the St Croix Valley
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Bridging Business & Community