What are the best businesses in Centre County? Submit your nominations to CBICC

Your input can help a beloved Centre County business or nonprofit add to its trophy shelf.

The Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County has opened nominations for its 2026 Centre County Business Awards. The honors annually recognize local businesses and business leaders “whose work strengthens our economy and enhances the quality of life across the region,” the chamber says.

Nominations from the public are presented to a committee tasked with carefully reviewing each suggested business and nonprofit. The community members who comprise the committee work to match qualifying businesses and organizations with six awards and honors.

This year’s Centre County Business Awards will feature the following categories:

• Nonprofit of the Year, recognizing a local nonprofit that has made a significant impact on the community
• ATHENA Championship Leadership Award, recognizing individuals who serve as allies, advocates and catalysts in promoting women’s leadership
• Emerging Business of the Year, recognizing a business that has achieved significant early success
• Small Business of the Year, recognizing an outstanding business with no more than 10 employees
• Business Leader of the Year, recognizing an individual who has expertly guided their organization
• Business of the Year, recognizing an outstanding business that has produced a significant positive impact on Centre County within the past year

Once nominations are reviewed and honors are finalized, the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County will honor recipients, finalists and nominees at a ceremony at the Nittany Lion Inn on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

You can submit nominations online at cbicc.org/awards until 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. Nominations should include specific details highlighting an organization’s accomplishments, impact and qualities that make it an ideal candidate.

Any questions about the nominations process can be directed to Benita Rannie, the chamber’s events and programs coordinator, at benita@cbicc.org.

Last year’s Centre County Business Awards recognized Kish Bank and the Centre County Historical Society as the business and nonprofit of the year, respectively. The 2025 nomination process received a record number of submissions, the chamber said.

Matt DiSanto

Centre Daily Times

814-231-4616

Matt is a 2022 Penn State graduate. Before arriving at the Centre Daily Times, he served as Onward State’s managing editor and a general assignment reporter at StateCollege.com. Support my work with a digital subscription