On Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Haslam and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce honored five area small businesses who recently received national U.S. Chamber of Commerce Awards. Construction Plus, Knowledge Launch, Free Enterprise Honorees ES&H, Inc., NetGain Corporation and Prestige Cleaners were recognized as Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners. 
 
Additionally small business owner Eddie Mannis, founder and president of Prestige Cleaners, was honored for being selected as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Community Excellence Award winner at the America's Small Business Summit.

"It is a true honor to be recognized by our peers - small businesses from across the country," says Mannis. "It is a credit to our dedicated staff and loyal customers that Prestige was selected from such an incredible field of companies. I think receiving the award also speaks to the tremendous support Prestige has received over the years from the Knoxville community."

The Community Excellence Award highlights a small business that demonstrates excellence in the eyes of its community, customers, and employees. Prestige received the award based on the number of online votes received.

"It's fantastic that Prestige Cleaners has been recognized nationally," says Mike Edwards, president and CEO of the Knoxville Chamber. "Eddie Mannis has built a company that focused on being a solid contributor to our local economy and also a tremendous supporter of the entire community. Prestige Cleaners, and the other Knoxville area companies recognized by the U.S. Chamber are representative of all the terrific small businesses that exist in the region."

The Knoxville Chamber nominated 14 local businesses for the U.S. Chamber Small Business Awards program - 11 companies applied. All nominees were past winners of a Knoxville Chamber Pinnacle Business Award and met the U.S. Chamber's criteria. Three companies were selected as 2010 Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners. The honorees, Construction Plus, Knowledge Launch, and Prestige Cleaners, were recognized at the America's Small Business Summit this morning. John Tolsma, CEO of Knowledge Launch, was present to accept the company's Blue Ribbon Award. The 75 national Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners were eligible to receive the Community Excellence award.

In addition to the Blue Ribbon Small Business Award winners, 25 businesses were named Free Enterprise Honorees for their strong business practices and contributions to the economy. ES&H, Inc. and NetGain Corporation are the Knoxville area businesses that received this recognition.