Chamber members celebrate Small Business Week

Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce members celebrated the return of Small Business Week on Oct. 17.

Merging the chamber’s monthly Business After Hours with a business showcase, members mingled at Zota Beach Resort while enjoying drinks and light bites.

Nine business displayed their products and services before the award nominees were introduced. At the Small Business Week awards luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 19,  also at Zota, the winners in four categories will be announced.

The awards will be given to a small businessperson in each of the four categories: Rookie Small Business Person of the Year (for businesses 3 years old or less as of Jan. 1, 2017); Small Business Person of the Year (for organizations of 10 or fewer employees and organizations of up to 100 employees); and Green Business of the Year.

During the Business After Hours, chamber members participated in a 50/50 raffle that garnered $206. Sharon and Glenn Wise of Gotcha Covered won $103 of the raffle but chose to donate their half to Adopt-A-Family with the other half.

Small Business Week continues until Thursday, Oct. 19. The final day of seminars is Wednesday, Oct. 18 with The Power of Google from 9 to 11 a.m. and Social Media Survivors from 1 to 3 p.m. both at Zota.