The Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for the 2018 Small Businesses of the Year Awards. Fourteen businesses and organizations have been named as finalists.

The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes business growth, community involvement, and innovative efforts in the Wausau Region and is a part of the 2018 Small Business Week. The recipients of this year’s award will be named at the 2018 Small Business of the Year Awards event to be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17 at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild. The cost for attending this program is $35 online.

The finalists in each of three categories are:

•Business-to-Business category: Colby Metal Inc, Southern Stretch Forming

•Business-to-Consumer category: Brainard Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Buska Retirement Solutions Inc, RE/MAX Excel, Ruppel Chiropractic LLC, TCTeardrops LLC, Weston Family Dental SC

•Charitable Non-Profit category: Healthfirst Network Inc, The Open Door of Marathon County Inc, Performing Arts Foundation Inc, Wausau Child Care Inc, Wausau River District Inc, The Women’s Community Inc

The 2018 Small Business Week begins on Monday, April 16 with a Legislators’ Forum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild. The cost for attending this program is $35.

The week of programs and events will continue on Thursday, April 20, as thousands of business people will assemble at the Business EXPO 2018 at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Business EXPO, the largest business-to-business trade show in the state, will feature a record number of exhibitors this year, with more than 300 booth spaces already reserved. Admission is free with your business card or $10.

The EXPO will be immediately followed by the EXPO Business PM from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center in Rothschild. The EXPO Business PM is one of the region’s largest networking events of the year, offering a unique opportunity to build new business relationships and strengthen existing ones while enjoying food and beverages supplied by various Chamber member restaurants, caterers and distributors. Cost is $10 in advance or $20 at the door.

The week will wrap-up with a Small Business of the Year Recognition Ceremony which will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 21 at City Grill Restaurant & Event Space in Wausau. Each of the 2018 Small Business of the Year recipients will describe their paths to success during this program. The cost for attending this program is $35 online.

The 2017 Small Business Week is presented by Ruder Ware LLSC and sponsored by Riiser Energy​ and Sam’s Club at the platinum level, Ansay & Associates LLC, Church Mutual Insurance Company and River Valley Bank at the gold level, Peoples State Bank, Schenck SC, Wipfli LLP and Wisconsin Public Service at the silver level, The Dirks Group, Fully Promoted, IROW Shredding Recycling & Waste Services, Mallery & Zimmerman SC and Yach’s Body & Custom at the bronze level. Media sponsors for the event include Midwest Communications, The Business News and WAOW Newsline 9.

For more information on the 2018 Small Business of the Year Awards, including a list of past recipients, or to register for any Small Business Week events, visit the Chamber’s site.