EDA announces 2018 Business Excellence: Business Appreciation Award winners

FRONT ROYAL — The Economic Development Authority has announced the winners of the 2018 Business Excellence: Business Appreciation Awards.

C&C Frozen Treats is awarded $500.00 to help with some upgrades to their business including completion of a mural and a new milkshake machine. C&C Treats is an ice cream shop located at 409 East Main Street in Front Royal. Auto Care Clinic is awarded $750.00 to help with upgrades to its business phone system and computer upgrades. Auto Care Clinic is an auto repair company located at 6768 Winchester Road in Warren County. And, Hanna Sign Company is awarded $1,000.00 for design software upgrades. Hanna Sign Company designs and installs signage for businesses throughout the region. They are located at 20 Water Street in Front Royal.

“We had great applicants again this year,” said Jennifer McDonald, executive director of the Economic Development Authority. “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 dedication to both their businesses and our community.”

Small business owners or operators of businesses that are licensed in the Town of Front Royal or Warren County are eligible, and will have completed an online application at EDA’s website, www.wceda.com. Small businesses are those with less than 500 employees (as defined by the Commonwealth of Virginia).

The program was designed in observance of Virginia’s Business Appreciation Month. A panel comprised of EDA staff and board members and President of the Chamber judge the applications. The prizes will be awarded in the upcoming week. Grants are funded through the EDA with sponsorship dollars from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

In years past, the EDA hosted business appreciation luncheons in honor of the small business community. But in 2011, EDA leadership determined that the money spent on luncheons would be better served as cash grants to those small businesses demonstrating excellence in business practices and community service.

In the eight years that EDA has offered the program, Business Excellence grants totaling $16,050.00 have been awarded to Queen Consulting & Technology Company for employee training, The Vine & Leaf for lighting equipment, Fork’d for a convection oven, Ben’s Family Cuisine for additional cook burners, Passages Travel for a database subscription, Weathervane Graphics for relocation expenses, Joe’s Steakhouse for landscaping, Backroom Brewery for kitchen equipment, Bearfoot Enterprises for microphone equipment, Lil’ Rugratz Daycare for outdoor play equipment; J’s Gourmet and Element for a new oven, The Main Street Daily Grind for an espresso machine, Royal Broadcasting for remote broadcast equipment, Loving Arms for art classes for seniors, and Linking You for design software – just to name a few.

“Thank you so much for the great news,” said Shae Parker of Hanna Signs. “This will be very helpful!”

“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 Greg Drescher, Chairman of the EDA. “This is a great way to honor our small business community.”