An awards ceremony for small businesses will take place  in Roanoke  on Oct. 4. The 26th Annual Small Business Awards will be located at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. The ceremony is hosted by The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center. Tickets start at $56.50 and can be purchased by calling 983-0700 ext. 221, e-mailing business@RoanokeChamber.org, or online at www.RoanokeChamber.org.

Here is the press release from the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center (RRSBDC) will recognize the accomplishments of outstanding small businesses at the 26th Annual Small Business Awards on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at 6 PM at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Reservations will be accepted by calling 983.0700, x221, e-mailing business@RoanokeChamber.org, or online at www.RoanokeChamber.org.  Tickets are $56.50 per person, $452 for a table of eight, and $565 for a table of 10, and includes dinner.

The Chamber and RRSBDC will recognize eight individuals as nominees for the Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, one Small Business Veteran of the Year, and over 70 business nominees for the Small Business of the Year Award. Business awards will be presented in the following categories: Construction/Real Estate, Micro-Business (five or fewer employees), Technology, Business-to-Business Services, Business-to-Consumer Services, Wholesale/Retail, Legacy (in business for 50-plus years), Not-For-Profit Arts & Culture, and Not-For-Profit Health & Human Services. The overall business winner will be named the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year for 2012 and will be entered in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Virginia Small Business of the Year competition.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, established in 1889, has 1,200 member firms.  The Chamber serves its members with advocacy, networking, information and business assistance programs that maintain a strong business climate in the Greater Roanoke Region.

The Roanoke Regional Small Business Development Center promotes the growth and prosperity of small businesses by offering professional business counseling, training, and information resources to entrepreneurs, start-up companies, and existing small businesses. The RRSBDC is hosted by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.