COVINGTON - There is a lot of good going on in the Covington business community, said Naashom Marx, City Business Development Manager.
By creating a ceremony to recognize the many businesses in the City that work hard every day and help to build our thriving economy, we get a chance to highlight the positive stories happening here, Marx said.
In a ceremony at the Madison Event Center this week, awards were given to businesses that are making a name for themselves and for Covington, as well as to long-standing and notable businesses in the community.
"This is our chance to say 'thank you' to the businesses who create our professional culture here," Marx said, "whether those are small shops with two or three people or large organizations with 3,000 employees".
This is the first time the City has produced an event that recognizes businesses in this ceremonial fashion.
"Covington has such a depth and variety of businesses. From Fidelity Investments that employs thousands to Klingenberg Hardware that has been here for fifty plus years" Marx said. "This is our chance to recognize these folks."
Award winners
Those awards included:
Significant Business Growth: Donna Salyers Fabulous Furs
Community Service (Involvement, Enhancement/Contribution): KW Mechanical
Unique of or Innovative Product of or Service: Swing This Kettlebells and Strength Studio
History/Longevity: Motch Jewelers
Exceptional Customer Service: Advantage Tent and Party Rental
Determining which Covington businesses to honor included a public nomination process that received approximately 70 submissions.
Suzann Gettys, Business Assistance Specialist and Project Manager said, "We were extremely enthused with the level of public participation and interest from the business community in the program's first year."
"It is an active and engaged business community, and a terrific group of people leading these businesses. It's a pleasure to get to work with them. As we continue to do outreach through our Business Retention and Expansion Program, we discover many businesses poised for growth and on the path for potentially adding jobs and continued expansion here in Covington." she said.
Other Businesses were recognized for their longevity, high growth and employment. They included:
100+ years
Motch Jewelers
Fedders Feed
Kentucky Savings & Loan
Citizens Savings & Loan
Swindler & Currin Funeral Home
50+ years
Riggs Hearing & Vision
Heringer Meats
T & W Printing
Klingenberg's Hardware
Ashland
Smith Muffler
Bressler & Co
Middendorf Supply
Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home
Rusk Heating & Cooling
Bilz Insurance
Landwehr Hardware
Connley Bros Funeral Home
Eastside Church of the Nazarene
American Sound & Electronics
CTS Packaging Inc
Gliers Meats
Foster Auto Sales
Ken/API Builders Supply
John R Green Co
Kelly Bros Home Center/ Lumber Co
D C Morrison Co
White Castle System
Allison & Rose Funeral Home
S & W Tire & Car
B J Novelty (Entertainment Experts / E2 Entertainment)
Corken Steel
Papas Candies
Taylor Brothers Inc
Economy Market
Batson & Associates
St Charles Care Center
Walther Auto Repair
Richard G Kemper Inc
Theatre House Inc
ACB American / Plaza Recovery
Swilly's Auto Sales
Serenity Funeral Care/Linnemann Group
Corbin Auto Body
Pediatric Care of Ky
Top 25 Growth Businesses (over prior year's payroll tax revenue)
Fidelity
ACB American/Plaza Recovery
Hosea
Club Chef
Healthpoint
Fabulous Furs
St. Elizabeth
Ashland
Gateway
Aimbridge
Catholic Board Of Education
Corken Steel
Huntington Bank
MAC Productions
Republic Services
US Bank
ESCO
Messer
Adams, Stepner ,Wolterman & Dusing
Kelly Brothers Home Center
Morrison DC
Chartwell Hospitality (Radisson)
C-Forward IT
Summit Medical Group
Sherill Morgan
Top 25 Employers (Biggest Employers by payroll tax revenue)
Fidelity
IRS
Covington Board of Education
St Elizabeth
Ky (State of)
Club Chef
Atkins & Pearce
Rosedale Manor
Ashland
ACB American/Plaza Recovery
Catholic Board of Education
Northern Ky MMR Board
Kroger
Kenton County Fiscal Court
Aimbridge
Kenton County Board of Education
Gateway
Hosea
Healthpoint
Packaging Unlimited
St Charles Care Center
Lexus Rivercenter
US Postal Service
US Bank
ESCO
Many of the City's businesses are the "best kept secret in Covington," Marx added.
"Sometimes the real impact of these businesses to the community at large gets lost. They employ people, they pay taxes, and they support the infrastructure of the community. This should be celebrated and these businesses thanked," she said.
Businesses here are growing and are continuing to hire, too, Marx said.