Chamber, CCCF and SBDC collaborate for community awards | Local News

For the first time, Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce, Chaffee County Community Foundation and the Small Business Development Center will collaborate to present Chaffee County’s Community Awards from 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Chaffee County Fairgrounds, 10165 CR 120 in Poncha Springs. 

Besty Dittenber, foundation executive director, said “It’s a really great collaboration. We’re all three working in similar ways … but focused on different areas of the community.” 

The foundation highlights the nonprofits, the SBDC honors businesses and entrepreneurs, and the chamber, businesses in general, she added.

The chamber board initiated the collaboration, Dittenber said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I always love getting to work with other people.”

Several awards are given by the chamber of commerce. The Cornerstone Award recognizes a person who has shown long-term community support and dedication as a “cornerstone” of the county. There were eight nominees. 

The Business of the Year award is selected from past businesses of the month winners by the chamber board. The Wanted Award, selected by the chamber’s Vaqueros, honors a highly valued community member.

All other awards were nominated by the public. The winners of the Volunteer, Philanthropist and Organization of the Year awards are decided by the Chaffee County Community Foundation board. Dittenber said she didn’t vote. “I couldn’t possibly choose one,” she said. However, one nomination that stood out to her, she said, was Miki Hodge for the Cornerstone Award, because she was nominated by her teenage son, Cooper. “I thought that was really sweet.”

The Volunteer of the Year award is given to someone whose volunteering shows “dedication, innovation and leadership” in the nonprofit sector. Nine were nominated.

The Philanthropist of the Year award recognizes a donor who has significantly impacted the county through financial support and inspiring others to engage in philanthropy. There were five nominees.

The Organization of the Year highlights a nonprofit organization that delivers “high-impact programming and innovative solutions” to meet the needs of the community. It had 12 nominees.

The Entrepreneur awards, given by the SBDC, are presented to two businesses in Chaffee County, north and south, which exemplify overcoming challenges, pursuing growth and providing distinctive products or services. There were 13 nominees. 

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at ChaffeeCommunity.org/communityawards.