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Links
Our bigger, New Delhi office!
October 11, 2005
ProGifts becomes Gold Sponsor of Heart of Florida Air Show
July 15, 2005
Area company turns more to New Delhi
July 3, 2005
ProGifts announces the opening of our New Delhi, India office!
June 21, 2005
Dacasso desk sets in the movies with Robert De Niro
February 20, 2005
Small Business person of the year nomination
January 30, 2005
Top Business Honors
September 18, 2003
Promotional Talent
August 25, 2003
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September 18, 200
By Joe Coombs
Several local businesses were honored Wednesday for their financial and volunteer contributions to Alachua County's commercial sector.
The 2003 Alachua County Business of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, drew about 200 people to a lunchtime ceremony. The award winners' generosity has included not only charitable donations, but thousands of volunteer hours at local non-profit organizations, said Brent Christensen, chamber president.
"These companies bring much more than jobs to our community," said Christensen, during a brief address at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center.
A panel of five judges sifted through 27 nominations for this year's awards. Each business was given points based on 11 categories, which included job growth, capital investment in Alachua County and community involvement.
Of those nominations, six businesses were selected as winners in the following categories, based on the size of their work force:
- One to 10 employees (tie), ProGifts Etc. and Carole M. Blair, CPA. ProGifts, a promotional products company, was recognized as a top 20 franchise by its major industry group, and Blair's office has doubled its staff in the last 18 months.
- 11 to 25 employees, Florida Bank. The bank recently added 1,600 square feet of space to its offices on Newberry Road, and it supports more than 50 local civic and charitable organizations.
- 26 to 50 employees, Millennium Bank. Since it opened in 1999, the bank has secured more than $124 million in assets, and it expects to open a fourth local office later this year.
- 51 to 100 employees, Farm Credit of North Florida. The lending institution has generated more than $466 million in loans to farmers in North Central Florida and supports 35 civic and charitable organizations.
- 101 or more employees, Campus USA Credit Union. Campus USA has added branches in Ocala, Lake City and Gainesville and has raised more than $150,000 for Shands Children's Hospital at the University of Florida.
- The 27 businesses nominated for awards this year have collectively made $500,000 in capital investments in the past year, said Chic Holden, incoming chairman of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Those businesses have also given more than $2.1 million to local civic and charitable organizations, he said.
"We want to be involved in all aspects of the community," said Mark Walker, president of Florida Bank. "If the economy and welfare of the community aren't doing well, the bank is not doing well. It's for everyone's benefit to be involved."
- Joe Coombs can be reached at (352) 338-3102 or coombsj@ gvillesun.co
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