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2026 Marketplace Excellence Awards

Key dates & deadlines

Applications Open

May 1, 2026

Online applications open and businesses begin submitting their entries.

Application Deadline

September 1, 2026

Deadline - submit by this date

Winners Chosen

Fall 2026

Winners notified by email and asked to be honored in-person at our Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration.

Awards Celebration

December 3, 2026

Winners presented awards at our Annual Meeting & Awards Celebration.

Want to nominate another business for a Marketplace Excellence Award?

Contact Kristen Johnson at [email protected] and nominate a fellow business that you feel deserves to be recognized. We will reach out to them and ask them to apply.

Group of cheerful people outdoors stacking hands, symbolizing teamwork and unity, with sunlight in the background.

Community Care Award

This award is given to a business that generously contributes time, talent and/or financial donations to charities or community organizations.

The Community Care Award winner will be presented with a check of $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

Four smiling women standing outdoors, holding coffee cups and casually dressed.

Diversity Entrepreneur Award

Entrepreneurs representing ethnic, cultural, and diverse members of the community bring unique perspectives and ideas for innovation in business ownership. This award was created to celebrate those leaders in Connecticut.

At least 51% of the eligible business must be owned by a member or members of a diverse group. Diversity is defined as including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age.

Business meeting with people discussing financial charts and graphs at a table.

Innovative Marketing Award

This award is given to a business who, within the last 12 months, launched a new marketing campaign that displays their commitment to ethics in the marketplace, educates consumers or serves the community.

Two hikers helping each other on a rocky mountaintop at sunrise, with a wide view of distant mountains.

Phoenix Award

This award is given to the business that has, like the Phoenix, transformed itself by creatively restructuring its business model, introducing new products, or rethinking the way they interact with their customer base and the community, leading the business to not only sustain, but to thrive.

Close-up of a lit sparkler emitting bright, glowing sparks against a dark blurred background.

Spark Award

This award is given to entrepreneurs whose new businesses are less than three years old and are actively working to maintain an ethical marketplace while connecting with the community.

Questions? Contact [email protected].