Kent’s Kona Kai Coffee Company captures top award

Published 12:00 pm Sunday, October 14, 2012

Kona Kai Coffee Company was recognized as Workforce Development Small Business of the Year at the second annual King County Executive’s Small Business Awards at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue last Wednesday.

Kent’s Pacific Metallurgical was a finalist for Exporting Small Business of the Year

“Every day, small business owners work long hours in a fiercely competitive environment to create value for their customers, provide jobs for their employees, give back to their community, and earn a living for their families,” King County Executive Dow Constantine told the attendance. “That’s why it so important to me that we recognize and support the entrepreneurial spirit, the creativity, and the diversity of small businesses throughout our county.”

Nominations were made by local jurisdictions and business organizations from July through September, and the 130 King County businesses that were nominated were narrowed down to three finalists in each category before today’s awards ceremony.

Businesses had to have 50 employees or less and have been in business for at least three years to qualify for the seven award categories.

For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/exec/constantine/BusinessAward.aspx

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AWARDS WINNERS

Small Business of the Year

WINNER: Easy Street Records | Seattle
Finalist: Kenmore Camera | Kenmore
Finalist: Trophy Cupcakes and Party | Seattle – Bellevue

Minority Small Business of the Year

WINNER: General Microsystems Inc. | Bellevue
Finalist: Idea Entity Corporation | Bellevue
Finalist: Nesby Associates | Renton

Woman Small Business of the Year

WINNER: Seattle Chocolates | Tukwila
Finalist: Dynamic Language | Seattle
Finalist: Global Resource Group | Bellevue

Exporting Small Business of the Year

WINNER: Enprecis | Seattle
Finalist: Pacific Metallurgical | Kent
Finalist: TransNET Inc. | Issaquah

Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year

WINNER: MicroEnergy Credits | Seattle
Finalist: Natural and Built Environments |Kirkland
Finalist: Model Remodel | Seattle

Workforce Development Small Business of the Year

WINNER: Kona Kai Coffee Company | Kent
Finalist: Thinkspace | Redmond
Finalist: Thrive | Seattle

Rural Small Business of the Year

WINNER: The Root Connection | Sammamish APD*
Finalist: Jubilee Biodynamic Farm Inc. | Snoqualmie APD*
Finalist: Mosby Farms | Upper Green APD*

*Agriculture Production District