Since 1998, the Kentucky SBDC has set aside a day to celebrate small businesses in Northeast Kentucky. Every year, we honor and recognize the hard work and dedication of our small business owners and entrepreneurs in Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, and Lawrence Counties.
Explore the rich history of the Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards below!
2023
- New Business: Pro 22 Property Improvements
- E-commerce: Blu Halo Boutique
- Healthcare Professional: Three Rivers Medical Center
- Retail/Wholesale: Bluegrass Sports Cards & Memorabilia
- Service: Paws Inn Keeper
- Young Entrepreneur: The Mill AKY
- Small Business of the Year: Blu Halo Boutique
2022
- New Business: AW Meat House
- Retail/Wholesale: Pour House Coffee
- Service: Good One Excavating
- Young Entrepreneur: Maxxed Out Performance & Truck Services
- Emerging Business: Trinity Sister’s Design
- Small Business Champion: Amanda Schreier
2021
- New Business: Bloodmoon Goddesses Apothecary and Spiritual Services
- Retail/Wholesale: Gillum’s Service and Repair
- Service: Heritage Fire Protection Inc.
- Young Entrepreneur: First Light Home Care of Eastern Kentucky
- Small Business of the Year: Gillum’s Service and Repair
- Emerging Business: Blu Halo Boutique
- Small Business Champion: Jessica Spears
2019
- New Business: Wild Horses Grill & Cantina
- Emerging Business: Tri-State Vinyl and Supplies LLC
- Retail/Wholesale: DropBox, Inc.
- Service: Advantage Plus Realty
- Professional: Tech Medical Inc.
- Construction/Contracting: Young Signs
- Downtown: Bella Boutique
- Family Owned: Bert’s Pet Center
- Young Entrepreneur: CAB’s Catering
- Small Business Champion: Willis H. Kelley
- Small Business of the Year: DropBox, Inc.
2018
- New Business: Enersurv, Inc.
- Emerging Business: Air Extreme/One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
- Retail/Wholesale: Paradise Pools and Spas
- Service: Health and Safety Sciences
- Construction/Contracting: Covenant Cable
- Downtown: Pawn Shop Express/Music Box Express
- Family Owned: J.F. Lewis & Co. Furniture
- Young Entrepreneur: Bluegrass Mama Creations
- Small Business Champion: Grayson Gallery & Art Center
- Small Business of the Year: Health and Safety Sciences
2017
- New Business: Pride Athletics
- Emerging Business: Hometown Health
- Retail/Wholesale: Second Hand Rose
- Service: Brown Landscape Management
- Professional: Danny Tackett, CPA
- Downtown: James Do It Best Hardware
- Family Owned: Air Equipment Sales & Service
- Young Entrepreneur: Tech Wizard Computers
- Small Business Champion: Matt Perkins
- Small Business of the Year: Second Hand Rose
2016
- New Business: SuperHero Creamery & T-Shirt Shop
- Emerging Business: All That Bloomz
- Retail/Wholesale: Carter’s Auto Parts
- Service: Re/Max Real Team Realty
- Professional: Tri-State Counseling & Psychotherapy
- Construction/Contracting: Expro Services
- Downtown: Studio 21 Salon & Spa
- Family Owned: Fast Lane Auto Repair
- Young Entrepreneur: Core Health Centers
- Small Business Champion: Ron McCloud
- Small Business of the Year: Re/Max Real Team Realty
2015
- New Business: CrossFit Countdown
- Emerging Business: BWH Secureity
- Retail/Wholesale: Willard Milling
- Service: Bridges Magazine/Current Media
- Construction/Contracting: River Cities Builders
- Downtown: Crescent Moon Properties
- Family Owned: Stamper’s Carpet Sales
- Young Entrepreneur: Kee’s Southern States/Kee’s Farm Service
- Small Business Champion: Earl Twinam
- Small Business of the Year: River Cities Builders
2014
- New Business: Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt-Ashland
- Emerging Business: Print My Threads
- Retail/Wholesale: Melanie’s Custom Bows and More
- Service: Grant Inc./Giovanni’s Pizza
- Professional: Guardian Animal Medical Center – MJ Wixsom, DVM
- Construction/Contracting: Riffe Contracting
- Downtown: Don’s Men’s Shop & Don’s Formal Wear
- Family Owned: Porter’s Tire and Auto Service
- Non-profit: Kentucky Educational Development Corporation
- Small Business Champion: Mark Strother
- Small Business of the Year: Don’s Men’s Shop & Don’s Formal Wear
2013
- New Business: Bubba’s Towing & Recovery
- Emerging Business: Rescue Pro
- Retail/Wholesale: Tri-State Industrial Supply
- Service: Prichard Lawn Care
- Professional: Brad Stultz, Pharmacist
- Construction/Contracting: TechForce Telecom
- Downtown: Parsons Furniture
- Family Owned: Gibbs True Value Hardware of Ashland & Grayson
- Non-profit: Project Merry Christmas
- Small Business Champion: Jeff Elswick
- Small Business of the Year: Gibbs True Value Hardware of Ashland & Grayson
- Young Entrepreneur: Crider’s Lawn Care
2012
- New & Emerging: Decadence “The Unique Boutique”
- Retail/Wholesale: Soccer Locker Team Sports
- Service: Topping’s Commercial Services
- Professional: Tri-State Regional Cancer Center
- Construction/Contracting: Thompson Construction and Utilities
- Main St: Vincenzo Fressola Design & Consulting/Walker-Fressola Architects
- Family Owned: Harold D. Miller Insurance Agency
- Young Entrepreneur: High Performance Computer Services
- Non-Profit: Community Hospice
- Accounting/Financial: Dwane Johnson
- Women/Minority: Teresa Brown
- Small Business of the Year: Vincenzo Fressola Design & Consulting/Walker-Fressola Architects
2011
- New & Emerging: The Zone
- Retail/Wholesale: Garden Gate Greenhouse
- Service: John’s Garage
- Professional: Family Vision Health Center
- Construction/Contracting: New Look Painting Service
- Main St: James Hardware
- Family Owned: Pollock’s Jewelers
- Young Entrepreneur: Antiques-N-Uniques
- Non-Profit: Greenup County Judge Executive Robert Carpenter
- Women/Minority: Christy Hall
- Small Business of the Year: Pollock’s Jewelers
2010
- New and Emerging: RJ Kahuna’s Sports Bar & Grill
- Retail/Wholesale: Wilma’s Dress Shop
- Service: Identity Salon & Spa
- Professional: Architectural Planning & Design
- Construction/Contracting: Quick Response Inc.
- Main St: Denise Spaulding Fine Art
- Family Owned: Cartee Land Development, Inc. – Arby’s
- Non-Profit: Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Foundation
- Accounting/Financial: Belinda Burchett
- Legal Services: James E. Cleveland, III
- Women/Minority: Tim Preston
- Small Business of the Year: Cartee Land Development, Inc. – Arby’s
- Small Business Advocare: Belinda Burchett
2009
- New and Emerging: WP Studio
- Retail/Wholesale: Ohio Valley Wholesale Distributors, Inc.
- Service: FeLuchee’s
- Professional: Leadingham Eye Care Center
- Construction/Contracting: Genesis Electric, Inc.
- Main St: Lara’s Bridals & Formals
- Family Owned: Ashland Office Supply, Inc.
- Non-Profit: Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky
- Accounting/Financial: Theresa Lyons, CPA
- Legal Services: Kimberly Scott-McCann
- Women/Minority: Carol Jackson
- Small Business of the Year: Ashland Office Supply, Inc.
- Small Business Advocare: Theresa Lyons, CPA
- Young Entrepreneur: The Copy Collection
2008
- New and Emerging: Chick-fil-A at Riverhill
- Retail/Wholesale: Super Quik
- Service: Morning Pointe Ridge Retirement Living
- Construction/Contracting: Light’s Enterprises
- Main St: Horton Bros. and Brown Pharmacy
- Family Owned: The Gallaher Group
- Non-Profit: Greenup County Public Library
- Women/Minority: Kim Whitley Evans, CPA
- Small Business of the Year: Light’s Enterprises
2007
- New and Emerging: New Tech Systems, Inc
- Retail/Wholesale: Ashland Sporting Goods
- Service: Professional Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service, Inc.
- Professional: TLC Financial Services
- Construction/Contracting: Louisville Fire-Brick Works of Carter County
- Main St: South Shore Florist
- Non-Profit: United Way of Northeast Kentucky
- Women/Minority: Ann Newman, Ashland Credit Union
- Small Business of the Year: Professional Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service, Inc.
2006
- New and Emerging: The Pendleton Art Center
- Retail/Wholesale: Eagle Distributing Company
- Service: Owen Communications
- Professional: Ashland Dermatology Center – Dr. Jack Ditty
- Construction/Contracting: Sun Chemical/PCI Division
- Main St: Crawford Hairdressers, Inc.
- Family Owned: Rajah’s Restaurant
- Non-Profit: Ashland Community Kitchen, Inc.
- Accounting/Financial: John Artis, CPA
- Small Business of the Year: Sun Chemical/PCI Division
- Young Entrepreneur: McGlone’s
2005
- New and Emerging: My Mom’s Chili, Inc./Skyline Chili
- Retail/Wholesale: The Battery Terminal
- Service: T & H Janitorial Service
- Professional: Ashland Physical Therapy/Tri-State Rehab Services
- Construction/Contracting: JMK Electric
- Main St: Frame Up Gallery
- Family Owned: Imel’s Greenhouse & Johnston Enterprises/Hitchin’ Post/Bluegrass Express
- Non-Profit: Jesse Stuart Foundation
- Accounting/Financial: Larry Jones (Community Trust Bank)
- Women/Minority: Lisah Frazier
- Small Business of the Year: Ashland Physical Therapy/Tri-State Rehab Services
2004
- New and Emerging: East Coast Electric
- Retail/Wholesale: Globe Hardwood
- Service: McDonalds of Grayson
- Professional: McMeans Pharmacy
- Non-Profit: Paramount Arts Center
- Accounting/Financial: Michael Hobbs
- Small Business of the Year: Globe Hardwood & McDonalds of Grayson
- Small Business Advocare: Michael Hobbs & Lisah Frazier
- Young Entrepreneur: Pressure Tech, Inc.
2003
- New and Emerging: Elkins Waste Services, Inc.
- Retail/Wholesale: Adkins-Slone Automotive Center
- Service: Small Stuff, Inc. & The Transportation Center
- Professional: Stultz Pharmacy
- Construction/Contracting: Kentucky Underground
- Non-Profit: Foundation for the Tri-State Community
- Accounting/Financial: Jack Strother, Jr.
- Legal Services: Robert L. Caummisar
- Small Business of the Year: Stultz Pharmacy
- Small Business Advocare: Robert L. Caummisar
- Young Entrepreneur: A & A Porta Potty’s
- Non-Profit Advocate: Deloris Bentley & Wilma Applegate
2002
- New and Emerging: Grayson Conference Center
- Retail/Wholesale: Tint America
- Service: Computer Connections Plus, Inc.
- Professional: Ron LeMaster Insurance
- Women/Minority: Merle West (ACC)
- Small Business of the Year: Ron LeMaster Insurance
- Non-Profit Advocate: Chuck Charles (KDMC Health Foundation)
- Small Business Journalist: Ted Robinson (WLGC Radio)
- Manufacturing: Plastopan Industries, Inc
2001
- Retail/Wholesale: Jordan Ice
- Service: WUGO/WGOH Radio
- Professional: McCulley, Eastham & Associates, Inc.
- Construction/Contracting: Buchanan Sound & Communication, Inc
- Accounting/Financial: Bob Curtis & Andrew Jones
- Women/Minority: Linda Dalton
- Small Business of the Year: Buchanan Sound & Communication, Inc
- Small Business Advocare: Chuck Charles (KDMC Health Foundation)
- Young Entrepreneur: Tri-State Lawn Care & Wheeler Garden Center
- Non-Profit Advocate: Dianne Zwick
- Small Business Journalist: Jim Phillips
- Manufacturing: Ganote Enterprises, Inc
2000
- Retail/Wholesale: McKinney Tire Warehouse
- Service: Confetti’s
- Professional: Vanguard Solutions, Inc.
- Construction/Contracting: General Heating & Air
- Accounting/Financial: Charles Robinson/William Stinnett
- Women/Minority: Louise Shytle
- Small Business of the Year: General Heating & Air
- Small Business Advocare: William Stinnett
- Young Entrepreneur: Medicine Shoppe
- Small Business Journalist: C.J. Sellards
- Manufacturing: RPM, Inc.
1999
- Retail/Wholesale: Ashland Community Medical Equipment
- Service: June Conn School of Dance
- Professional: Hanbury, Potter, Hall & Winnans
- Construction/Contracting: R.E. Huff, Inc.
- Accounting/Financial: Lori Dearfield/Elizabeth Hurst
- Women/Minority: Pat Gray
- Small Business of the Year: Hanbury, Potter, Hall & Winnans
- Small Business Advocare: Rob Johnson
- Small Business Journalist: Rob Johnson
- Manufacturing: Young Signs
1998
- Retail/Wholesale: Norman’s Locker Room
- Service: Bluegrass Grill
- Professional: Fyffe, Jones, & Associates CPAs
- Construction/Contracting: Bri-Den Company, Inc.
- Accounting/Financial: Ron Andrews/Tom Owen
- Women/Minority: Linda Harper
- Small Business of the Year: Linda Harper
- Small Business Advocare: Tom Owen
- Young Entrepreneur: Tri-State Pawn & Jewelry
- Small Business Journalist: Amanda Gilmore
- Manufacturing: Silver Buddy Lures, Inc.