ST. GEORGE — The search is on for the community’s favorite restaurants, boutiques, mechanics, realtors and countless other categories of local businesses. However, only an elite few will win the right to call themselves the Best of Southern Utah.
Stock image | Photo by lucky-photographer/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
Now in its sixth year, the Best of Southern Utah contest places a well-deserved spotlight on outstanding local business owners, operators and employees. From pizza parlors and diners to automotive shops and building contractors, small businesses are an invaluable thread in the fabric of Southern Utah and rely on the community’s support.
“Our mission continues to focus on how can we help grow and highlight local business,” Canyon Media general manager Ben Lindquist said. “This is a contest that celebrates hard work, quality, customer service and the importance of great products and great people.”
Nominations for this year’s contest begin Wednesday at noon and will remain open until Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. Whether you’re an owner, an employee, a customer or a fan, this is your opportunity to let your voice be heard. Click here to fill out a nomination form and get your favorite businesses on the ballot before voting starts on Feb. 21.
Gold and silver award winners will be crowned in 10 consolidated categories: Activities and Entertainment, Business and Services, Food and Beverage, General Services, Home and Garden, Lifestyle and Beauty, Medical, Schools, Shopping and Vehicles and Services.
The winning businesses will be published online and in the Best of Southern Utah magazine on June 5. Again this year, Canyon Media is hosting an exclusive gala to celebrate the winners the same evening that results are announced.
Stock image | Photo by Alpenarts/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
Adding to the prestige, winners also receive a prize package featuring a gold or silver medal along with a window cling and a certificate commemorating their accomplishment. Keep an eye out for many of these badges on display around town.
“The Best of Southern Utah winner’s badge has become a form of credibility, pride and a way to gauge what you can expect from a business that wins,” Lindquist said.
The Best of Southern Utah magazine is designed to serve as a guidebook for both locals and visitors seeking the very finest that the area has to offer. Canyon Media again will manage the production and publication of this year’s edition, 15,000 copies of which will be distributed throughout the community over the summer.
Best of Southern Utah is brought to you by St. George News, Canyon Media and Dixie Power. The member-owned electric cooperative returns as the contest’s title sponsor for the third year in a row.
“We see our sponsorship of the Best of Southern Utah as an extension of our mission at Dixie Power,” communications specialist Steven Young said. “It’s about encouraging, recognizing and celebrating the very best in our community, just as we strive to be the best in what we do.”
Best of Southern Utah inspires businesses to be their best. The contest was created by Canyon Media and its partners to honor the people who make the greater St. George area a fantastic place to live, work and play.
Stock image | Photo by Tiago_Fernandez/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
The winning businesses are determined solely by popular vote, Lindquist said, clarifying that Best of Southern Utah isn’t a “pay to play” contest. Every nominated business is eligible to receive votes, and every gold or silver winner receives a spotlight online and in the Best of Southern Utah magazine regardless of whether they buy advertising space or not.
Again this year, Canyon Media has partnered with Elite Insights to keep your personal information secure and prevent fraudulent voting.
“Having a third-party software provider is critical to making sure the contest is run fairly and without voter fraud,” Lindquist said. “We know how hard these businesses work, and they deserve best-in-class software to make sure their efforts to win take place on an even playing field.”
Best of Southern Utah has evolved into a signature event for Southern Utah’s business community and only keeps growing. The contest tallied a record-breaking 747,000 votes in 2023, with over 1,300 different businesses receiving nominations.
“We’ve continued to see sizable increases in voting, nominations and overall participation,” Lindquist said. “I expect our sixth year to be our biggest and best year yet.”
Resources
Best of Southern Utah 2024 | Facebook | Instagram | Website.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.