Governor Corbett Announces PA Businesses and Entrepreneurs as Finalists for Second Annual Governor's ImPAct Awards

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett announced today the 247 finalists for the second annual Governor's ImPAct Awards, developed in 2013 to recognize companies and entrepreneurs throughout Pennsylvania that are creating jobs and making positive contributions to the state's economy.

"Pennsylvania's businesses and entrepreneurs are the true drivers of our economy by employing so many hard-working Pennsylvanians," Corbett said. "I'm proud to stand with some of the men and women who are helping to build a stronger Pennsylvania and applaud the 247 finalists of this year's ImPAct Awards."

This year's finalists range in full-time workforce size from one to 136,000, and range in company age from one year old to 197 years old.

The Governor's ImPAct Awards recognize companies from throughout the state in five categories: Jobs First, Community Impact, Small Business Impact, Entrepreneurial Impact and Export Impact.

• Community ImPAct Award - This award is given to a company that exemplifies the tenet of "doing well by doing good." The winners in this category show a sustained commitment to the growth and development of their employees and the community or communities in which they do business.
• Entrepreneur ImPAct Award - This award is given to an entrepreneur who has led his or her company to a position of strength in the marketplace by way of growth in one or all of the following areas: creativity, innovation, managerial ability, leadership skills and turnaround.
• Export ImPAct Award - This award is given to a company that has significantly increased its export sales and the number of new foreign markets it sells to since 2011.
• Jobs First ImPAct Award - This award is given to a company that has demonstrated consistent job growth and retention over the past two years. The company must have had a positive net gain in new jobs during this time period.
• Small Business ImPAct Award - This award is given to a small business that has been an innovator within its industry, demonstrated revenue/profit growth, increased its workforce and committed to the growth and development of its employees and community. The company must have 100 or fewer employees.

Nominations for each award were provided by the state's regional economic development partners — the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) network. Each of the 10 PREP regions submitted up to five nominations per category.

The Corbett administration developed the PREP network in 2011 to regionalize and coordinate local economic development services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provides grants through PREP to local economic development service providers that provide assistance and other resources to support local business expansion and growth. 

"Our regional economic development partners work every day to strengthen their communities and are tremendous partners in our commitment to grow the economy and get Pennsylvanians back to work," Corbett said. "They are often the go-to resource for new ventures and established companies, and help position them for growth and greatness."

The second annual Governor's ImPAct Awards ceremony will be held in Hershey on May 30, 2014.

The awards are being sponsored at no cost to the taxpayers by the state's private sector partner, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA), and are being coordinated by DCED, Team PA and Journal Multimedia.

Representatives from Team PA and Journal Multimedia will evaluate the nominations and select the award recipients. 

For full list of finalists and more information about the Governor's ImPAct Awards, visit www.newPA.com/impact-awards.

Media contact: 
Valerie Caras, Governor's Office, 717-783-1116
Steve Kratz, DCED, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor