Austin Daily Herald, Belles & Beaus take home top prizes; Spam Museum is Project of the Year
Published 11:23 am Friday, February 24, 2017
- Austin Daily Herald Publisher Jana Gray accepts the award for Large Business of the Year at Thursday’s annual chamber banquet. Photos by Jason Schoonover/jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com
It was a big night for downtown businesses.
Three downtown businesses took the top awards from Thursday’s 2016 Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Banquet. The Austin Daily Herald won Large Business of the Year, Belles & Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear won Small Business of the Year, and the Spam Museum won Project of the Year.
Belles & Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear owner Marie Fryer accepts the award for Small Business of the Year at Thursday’s Austin Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.
“I am truly just blown away,” said Belles & Beaus owner Marie Fryer.
“Many thanks to the community for supporting our little store,” she added.
The Project of the Year award capped a big year for the Spam Museum, which opened at 101 Third Ave. NE last April and has since attracted visitors from all 50 states and more than 60 countries.
“It is such a wonderful honor to able to represent Austin on a daily basis,” Spam Museum manager Savile Lord said.
The Spam Museum also won the Award of Merit in the Attraction of the Year event on Jan. 31 at the 2017 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference in St. Paul.
Spam Museum manager Savile Lord accepts the award for Project of the Year at Thursday’s Austin Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.
The Herald took home Large Business of the Year after celebrating 125 years in business in 2016.
ADH Publisher Jana Gray, the chamber’s 2017 president, urged business people to become involved in the chamber.
“Let’s get involved,” she said. “Make Austin better; Make Mower County better. It’s definitely worth your time.”
The Austin Daily Herald’s Brenda Landherr won Ambassador of the Year for the second straight year after tying for the honor last year.
Jackie Bumgardner of Games People Play took home Volunteer of the Year, and Workforce Development Inc. was named Mower Refreshed Business of the Year.
Awards
Large Business of the Year: Austin Daily Herald
Small Business of the Year: Belles & Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear
Project of the Year: Spam Museum
Ambassador of the Year: Brenda Landherr, Austin Daily Herald
Team of the Year: Sharon Alms and her team
Volunteer of the Year: Jackie Bumgardner, Games People Play
Mower Refreshed Business of the Year: Workforce Development Inc.
From Left: ADH Publisher Jana Gray, Heather Ryks, Brenda Landherr and Editor Jason Schoonover
