The Chamber's department of Small Business & Entrepreneurship offers awards programs throughout the year to help businesses gain recognition and promotion needed for success.

ATHENA Award

The ATHENA Award is a nationally recognized achievement for a person who supports women in business. The award is presented at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting in June. 

Small Business Leader
These awards are presented at the Annual Meeting of the Chamber in June. The Small Business Leaders are selected for their outstanding achievements.

Small Business of the Month
At each month’s Board meeting, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce honors an outstanding small
business with the Small Business of the Month award.  The business is presented a plaque to recognize their achievement.

Do you know, or are you, a small business that is strong and growing? Nominate them, or yourself, for the Small Business of the Month, and learn about our previous recipients.

Sky High Growth Award
The Sky High Growth Awards recognize the fastest growing small businesses for the year. Businesses nominated for the awards are evaluated on their gross revenue and number of employees.

Small Business Recognition
This event is an opportunity for business owners and professionals to network, meet and congratulate the nominees for Small Business Leader and ATHENA Awards. The event begins with a mini-trade show with table top displays of small businesses.

“We’re for Business” Awards Banquet
The third annual business awards banquet will distinguish businesses whose company has made an outstanding contribution to the business community, regardless of size or business category. The gala recognizes area businesses on their accomplishments in community involvement; customer service; and innovation for the One for All, Out on a Limb, and Over the Top Awards.

One for All Award

The award will go to a company that emphasizes community involvement within its business model and among its employees and demonstrates this philosophy on a day-to-day basis with its employees, clients and business community.

Out on a Limb Award

The award will go to a company that has discovered consumer needs and through creative thinking, has designed policies, processes and/or applications to better meet those needs.

Over the Top Award

The award will go to a company that excels in recognizing and addressing its customer needs through unique employee training programs, customer service policies and/or other customer satisfaction models.

For more information, contact Vice-President of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, Carol Hensley, at (828) 258-6116 or by e-mail.