REEDLEY – Residents who know an outstanding individual or business they want recognized in the Reedley community can now submit nominations for the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards.
Nominations for the awards opened on Dec. 20 and will close on Jan. 17, 2025; the chamber will recognize winners at the 2025 Business and Community Awards Gala on Feb. 22, 2025. Award categories include citizen of the year, junior citizen of the year, large business of the year, small business of the year, entrepreneur of the year, community hero of the year, the Reedley Beautification Award and the Reedley Hall of Fame honor.
Submit nominations through the “events” tab on the chamber of commerce website. The nomination form notes that submissions are not a voting process, meaning individuals nominated do not need to be submitted more than once. Recipients are selected by the Chamber Awards Committee and will be publicly announced on Feb. 1, 2025.
Visit the chamber’s website or contact chamber staff with any questions at 559-638-3548. The chamber office in downtown Reedley closed for the holiday season on Dec. 23; it will reopen on Jan. 6, 2025.
This year’s Business and Community Awards Gala is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2025 at Reedley College’s new McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The gala is a formal affair, aptly themed “Black Tie & Bright Lights: Reedley’s Night to Shine.” According to the chamber of commerce, the gala will be residents’ “chance to experience Reedley’s very own ‘red carpet’ moment.”
Gala tickets will go on sale on Jan. 20, 2025, with more details on sponsorship opportunities to be announced at a later date.
Individuals nominated for citizen of the year and junior citizen of the year should demonstrate exceptional volunteerism and leadership in growing the Reedley community. The junior citizen of the year award is meant for residents under the age of 21 who go “above and beyond to make things better for others, showing outstanding commitment and contribution to the community.”
The large business of the year award recognizes Reedley businesses with 10 or more employees, while small business of the year goes to a business with nine employees or fewer. Businesses nominated should excel in customer service, offer innovative products or services, support community volunteerism and strengthen the local economy, according to the chamber of commerce.
The entrepreneur of the year is someone who shows creativity, innovation and originality in their business. According to the nomination form, this person “may have started a new venture, expanded into new areas or taken on challenging projects that exemplify entrepreneurial spirit.”
The community hero of the year is someone who, through their profession, provides extraordinary service to the people of Reedley. In 2024, the award went to Reedley City Manager Nicole Zieba and Code Enforcement Officer Jesalyn Harper.
The Reedley Beautification Award goes to a business, group or individual who enhances Reedley’s “visual appeal,” according to the chamber, through projects such as graffiti removal, remodeling, public cleanups and more. Last year, the city of Reedley and the Reedley Parks and Recreation Foundation received the beautification award.
Finally, the Reedley Hall of Fame is meant to celebrate those who made a lasting impact on the community through decades of service and dedication to the city. Nominees must have lived in or invested themselves in the community for at least 25 years, have been recognized for accomplishments by other organizations, have contributed significantly to Reedley’s development and quality of life and have actively participated in local organizations, church or service clubs.
Additionally, Reedley Hall of Fame members should have helped put Reedley “on the map” through achievements beyond the local community, the chamber nomination form said. Posthumous nominations are welcome for those who left a lasting legacy on the community. Larry Harder received the Hall of Fame award last year.
Other 2024 award recipients included Ronald Sa with the “spirit of Reedley” award, Ramon Romero as citizen of the year, Jemimah Balallo and Christian Ferman as junior citizens of the year and KateLyn Peters as entrepreneur of the year. Lee’s Service won large business of the year, Master Storage 365 won medium business of the year and Reedley Sandwich Shop won small business of the year.
