The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce is collecting nominations for the 2017 Small Businesses of the Year Awards through 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21. The Small Business of the Year Awards recognize business growth, community involvement and innovative efforts in the Wausau Region in three categories: business-to-business, business-to-consumer and charitable non-profit.

Visit wausauchamber.com to complete an online application or to download a printable form.

The 2017 Small Business of the Year Awards will be held on Tuesday, April 18 and are part of the Chamber’s 2017 Small Business Week which will be held from April 17 to April 21. Small Business Week also includes the Business EXPO 2017 at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild on Thursday, April 20.

The 2016 Small Business of the Year recipients were:

Business-to-Business category: Creative Communication & Design is a Wausau-based, full-service advertising agency dedicated to growing Marathon County businesses since 1990. Owners Chris Liedtke and Cindy Baumann have forged their dream into a regional marketing leader serving national and international clients in diverse industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, consumer products, technology, and financial services.

Business-to-Consumer category: Jon Griesbach opened Griesbach Auto Service Inc in 1996 with the goal of providing the best customer and automotive service. Griesbach Auto Service maintains today’s automobiles and light trucks and offers quality pre-owned vehicles for sale at a pair of locations, offering exceptional client service and a system for superior client follow-up.

Charitable Non-Profit category: The Center for the Visual Arts Inc is a non-profit organization organized in 1982 that works to engage people in the visual arts, adding to the livability of the community. This is accomplished through free exhibits in three professional galleries, through art classes for children and adults, through the sale of original artist work in a gift shop, and by collaborating with other local organizations.

For more information about the 2017 Small Business of the Year Awards, visit wausauchamber.com or contact Renae Krings at [email protected] or 715-848-5942.