Businesses Honored at Diversity Business Awards

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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News item

Businesses Honored at Diversity Business Awards

Posted: 09/27/2021
Ten local businesses that provided goods or services to the City of Knoxville were honored during the 6th Annual Diversity Business Enterprise Awards ceremony, held Sept. 23, at Marble Hall in Lakeshore Park.

Diversity business enterprises are small businesses and businesses owned by women, minorities, service-disabled veterans and people with disabilities. 

Mayor Indya Kincannon and members of the City’s Purchasing Department and its Small Business and Diversity Outreach Office commended the winners for their efforts to help the City achieve one or more of its five core goals: public safety, healthy and connected communities, clean and resilient future, thriving businesses and good jobs, and good governance.

City employees submitted a record-setting 57 nominations for the annual awards. Members of the committee that reviewed the nominations and selected the winners noted that many vendors were nominated because they responded quickly to needs instigated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For instance, Minority-Owned Business of the Year WJBE FM worked closely with Knoxville Area Transit to promote changes in service due to COVID-19 and increase responses to its hiring efforts. 

Award categories and this year’s honorees are: 

Above & Beyond Award – National Building Service, Inc.
Young Entrepreneur Award -- Integrated Response Systems, LLC
Rising Star Award -- Jefferson Farmers’ Cooperative
Impact Award – Cox Power & Supply
Distinguished Service Award -- Edison Electric, LLC
Small Business of the Year Award – Camel Custom Canvas Shop
Partnership Award -- Progression Electric, LLC and Southern Constructors, Inc. 
Woman-Owned Business of the Year –  Allen Sign Company
Minority-Owned Business of the Year -- WJBE FM


In addition to the local businesses, City departments and staff were recognized. 

Store Systems Manager for Fleet Services Nicholas Spine and Parks and Recreation Administrative Specialist Angie Davidson received Employee DBE Advocate Awards for their efforts to increase departmental spending with DBEs and inform their colleagues about the values of supporting DBEs in the community. 

Four City departments received DBE Advocate Awards for spending the highest percentage of their budget with minority- or women-owned businesses (M/WOB): 

The Engineering Department (Large spend)
Public Building Authority (Medium spend)
311 Center for Service Innovation (Small spend)
City Court (Micro Spend)
    
Businesses seeking to register as a vendor with the City of Knoxville, review RFPs (requests for proposals) and open bids, and receive assistance from the Small Business and Diversity Outreach Office should visit https://KnoxvilleTN.gov/purchasing