The awards have been ordered and now we await the decision of past recipients for the Business of the Year awards that will be given at our 87th annual Banquet on Sept. 22.

The nominees for Business of the Year in the small business category are: Clear View Financial Services; Goodtimes Boat Rental; Hometown Title & Closing Services; Horizon Gymnastics & Dance Academy; Just Counters & other stuff, Inc.; Port Charlotte Florist; Security Alarm Corporation; R. Simpson Plastering & Stucco Inc. and Steve’s Towing. In the large business category we have BB&T; Four Points By Sheraton Punta Gorda; Integrity Employee Leasing; Owen-Ames-Kimball Company and Waste Management. We have several nonprofits including the Animal Welfare League; Charlotte Behavioral Health Care; Charlotte County Medical Society; Drug Free Charlotte County; Small Business Development Center at FGCU; Special Olympics, Charlotte County and Southwest Florida Works.