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Nominate a business for the Meridian Small Business Big Impact Awards

Meet the finalists for the Meridian Small Business Big Impact Awards

The Meridian Small Business Big Impact Awards feature $300,000 in total prize money

We’re rewarding small businesses that are making a big impact. This year, the contest features more prizes than ever before. We’re awarding a total of $300,000, including $50,000 for the winning business in each of our contest categories: community, environment, and innovation.

We received over 4,000 nominations this year! After careful consideration, our panel of business experts chose the finalists in each category. Currently, our judging panel is collecting and reviewing additional materials and details to help them choose the winners. We’ll announce the winners and their prizes in mid-December.

Impact categories and prizes

Community impact

First place prize: $50,000

This category recognizes businesses that make a positive impact for people facing barriers to equal access and opportunity due to discrimination. When businesses offer their support to equity-deserving groups they can make a huge impact of the overall well-being of their communities.

Second place: $25,000

Third place: $10,000

Plus, all three winners get a professional photoshoot.

Finalists

Black E.S.T.E.E.M.

Carlington Booch

Come Back Snacks

Community Builders

Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre

Green Care Farms

HOOPQUEENS

LES Studio

Liberty for Youth

Raw Carrot

Environment impact

First place prize: $50,000

This category recognizes businesses that make a positive impact for people facing barriers to equal access and opportunity due to discrimination. When businesses offer their support to equity-deserving groups they can make a huge impact of the overall well-being of their communities.

Second place: $25,000

Third place: $10,000

Plus, all three winners get a professional photoshoot.

Finalists

Beaver Rock Roastery

Goodlot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Co.

Links for Greener Learning

Noki Farms Ltd.

Nourished Roots Market Garden

Oak & Willow

The Box of Life Inc.

The Patch (through Hutton House)

Twists

Unboxed Market

Innovation impact

First place prize: $50,000

This category recognizes businesses actively working to minimize the environmental impact of their operations and products, as well as businesses developing solutions that have a positive impact on the environment for others.

Second place: $25,000

Third place: $10,000

Plus, all three winners get a professional photoshoot.

Finalists

Aaniin Retail Inc.

Awarewear

Cherry Lane

Flip Academy

FYOU The Forgiveness Project

Lucky Iron Fish

Mon Petit Chou Bouquets

MycoFutures

Operation Grow

Spirit In Niagara

More prizes and awards

$5,000 prize for the most nominations

This prize will go to the most-nominated business, in any category.

$5,000 prize for the most remarkable start-up

This prize can be awarded in any category to a business, started in the past two years, that is making a positive impact on their community, environment or innovation.

$500 nominator award

You will receive $500 if the business you nominate wins one of our $50,000 grand prizes!

3rd annual Small Business Big Impact awards logo

What our past winners are up to

Do Good Donuts

Do Good Donuts, last year's prize winner, provides work-based training for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities - as well as tasty treats! Watch this video to hear more about their story.

Length (3:40) Transcript