BY CLYDE R NELSON
Executive director, merrill area chamber of commerce

On Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Celebration and Awards Banquet to honor those businesses that were voted on by its 200 plus members for their contributions to the Merrill Area. This year’s event was held at Northwoods Veterans post with over 150 members, employees, and guests in attendance. Those in attendance were entertained by the Chamber’s very own Ken Neff, serving as emcee.

At this year’s banquet, the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce honored winners from 2020 and 2021. The various categories of awards are based upon the number of employees, and the categories range from Large Businesses, those with greater than 76 employees, to the Non-Profit members of the Chamber.

2020 awards
The following are the 2020 Business of the Year award recipients:

Large Business of the Year winner was Merrill Area Public Schools. The list of nominees also included: Church Mutual Insurance, Northcentral Technical College, City of Merrill, Bell Tower Residence, and Agra Industries.

Mid-sized Business of the Year winner was Kwik Trip East Main Street location. The list of other nominees included: Reindl Printing, Brickner’s Park City, Park City Credit Union, Mitchell Metal Products, Fabiano Brothers, and Ascension [now Aspirus] Good Samaritan Hospital.

Small Business of the Year winner was Les & Jim’s Lincoln Lanes. The list of other nominees included: Los Mezcales, Lange Auction Realty, and Sawmill Brewing Company.

Hometown Business of the Year Award was given to two members in 2020. The winners were Ana Blair’s Boutique and Hugo’s Pizza. The list of other nominees included: Courtside Furniture, First Street Coffee Station, The Dugout, Westside Market, Auto Jockeys, Oak Park Dental, NAPA Auto Parts of Merrill, and Chips Hamburgers.

Not-for-profit Business of the Year winner was Veterans of Foreign Wars & Auxiliary. The list of other nominees included: HAVEN, Inc., Merrill Area United Way, Merrill Rotary Club, O’Tannenbaum Tour, Holy Cross Sisters USA Province, Merrill Lions Club, Gleason Community Club, Parkside Preschool, and River District Development Foundation of Merrill.

2021 awards
The following are the 2021 Business of the Year award recipients:

The Large Business of the Year winner was Weinbrenner Shoe Company. The list of nominees also included: Church Mutual Insurance, Sierra Pacific, Agra Industries, S.C. Swiderski, Merrill Area Public Schools, Park City Credit Union, Bell Tower Residence, Lincoln Wood Products, Northern Wire, and Wisconsin Public Service Corp.

Mid-sized Business of the Year winner was Brickner’s Park City. The list of nominees also included: Dave’s County Market, Reindl Printing, Kwik Trip East Main Street location, Ruder Ware, and Mitchell Metal Products.

Small Business of the Year winner was Bob’s West 64. The list of nominees also included: Breaman Merrill Ford, AmericInn, Les & Jim’s Lincoln Lanes, Lora Bladow RE/MAX Excel, Los Mezcales, Jokin’ Joe’s, LLC, Urban Construction Company, Health in Motion, and VIP Office Products.

Hometown Business of the Year winner was Sawmill Brewing Company. The list of nominees also included: Merrill Foto News, Bluejay Radio WJMT, Hargrave Appliance Center, Courtside Furniture, Chips Hamburgers, Westside Market, In the Lite Electric, Riverside Athletic Club, Z Best Car Wash, Ziebell’s Door Company, D’s Dogs, and Pine Ridge Convenience Store.

The Not-for-Profit Business of the Year winner was Lincoln County Fair Association. The list of nominees also included: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northcentral Wisconsin, O’Tannenbaum Tour, Parkside Preschool, Merrill Community Homeless Center, Pine River Fire Department, The Friends of Vincent Foundation, The Salvation Army of Merrill, Merrill Area Farmer’s Market, HAVEN, Inc., Merrill Area United Way, Merrill Youth Softball Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars & Auxiliary.