2017 Business Excellence Awards handed out by Warren County EDA and Chamber of Commerce

Craig Laird will use prize money to purchase new kitchen equipment and tables & chairs for the bistro.

FRONT ROYAL – The Warren County Economic Development Authority and the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce have announced the winners of the 2017 Business Excellence: Business Appreciation Awards.

The Vine & Leaf, a Main Street bistro that sells wine, tea and fine chocolates, was awarded $1,000.00 for new kitchen equipment, chairs and tables.

“This is great,” said Craig Laird of The Vine and Leaf.  “This will help us a lot to make improvements at our bistro.”

Queen Consulting and Technologies LLC, was awarded $750.00 to help build a training program.

“This is awesome,” said Nathan Scott of Queen Consulting & Technologies. “We are very, very thankful!”

Michael Whitlow, who owns vetbuilder.com has been awarded $500.00 to help with the renovation of the company’s new space at 130 A East Main Street. Vetbuilder.com is a veteran-owned and operated full remodeling and service company.

Additionally, the Chamber awarded a free membership and free promotional mailings to each of the winners.

In a written statement, Jennifer McDonald, executive director of the Economic Development Authority, said, “We had great applicants this year. It was hard to choose. But, I think we selected some great businesses for the awards. We want our small business community to know how much we value their hard work and dedication.”

The Award program was designed in 2011 in observance of Virginia’s Business Appreciation Month. Three cash grants that are made to local small businesses that show excellence in business practices and contribute to the community in some way.

Small business owners or operators of businesses that are licensed in the Town of Front Royal or Warren County were eligible to apply for the grant, and completed an online application at EDA’s web site, www.wceda.com. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia, small businesses are defined as those with less than 500 employees.

In the seven years since the program’s inception, Business Excellence grants totaling $13,800.00 have been made to: Fork’d, Ben’s Family Cuisine, Passages Travel, Weathervane Graphics, Joe’s Steakhouse, Backroom Brewery, Bearfoot Enterprises, Lil’ Rugratz Daycare for outdoor play equipment; J’s Gourmet and Element for a new oven, The Main Street Daily Grind, Loving Arms, Linking You, which purchased design software – just to name a few.

“We would like to thank Rappahannock Electric Cooperative for its support of small business development and for being a sponsor of the Business Excellence Awards again this year. We look forward to continuing the award program,” said Patty Wines, Chairwoman of the EDA. “This is such a great way to honor our small business community.”