A recent poll revealed 70% of Clarksville residents trust businesses more if they've won a local award, yet many deserving small businesses struggle to even get nominated for the 'Best of Clarksville' accolades. These awards aim to recognize broad local business excellence and foster community pride, but the nomination process often favors businesses with existing brand recognition and marketing resources, creating an uneven playing field for smaller, equally deserving enterprises. Therefore, without a conscious effort from the community to seek out and nominate a wider array of businesses, the awards are likely to continue celebrating a familiar set of establishments, potentially missing opportunities to uplift emerging local talent and diverse offerings.

How to Nominate: The Process and Criteria

  • The nomination period runs for six weeks, closing promptly at 5:00 PM on November 29, 2025, according to the Clarksville Awards Committee.
  • Businesses must have a physical presence in Clarksville and operate for at least one year to be eligible, based on Awards Eligibility Criteria.
  • Public participation is crucial, with community input accounting for 60% of a business's initial score, per the Awards Judging Rubric.
  • Businesses can self-nominate or be nominated by customers and community members, as outlined in the Awards Nomination Guidelines.

The short nomination window and significant reliance on public input mean businesses must actively engage their customer base early. This ensures they secure a strong initial position, whether through self-promotion or by encouraging community support.

New Categories and What's at Stake

This year introduces two new categories: "Most Sustainable Business" and "Best Emerging Startup," bringing the total to 45 distinct awards, according to an Awards Committee Press Release. The Clarksville Chamber of Commerce actively promotes the awards, urging all local enterprises to participate to boost community spirit, based on a Chamber President's Statement. Winners receive a commemorative plaque, a feature in the local newspaper, and a year-long digital badge for their website, as detailed in the Awards Prize Package Details. The addition of new categories offers fresh opportunities for diverse enterprises to be celebrated, potentially broadening the pool of recognized businesses beyond traditional sectors. However, this expansion does not fully address the underlying challenge of visibility for new businesses.