The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Emerging Entrepreneur Award and the 2026 Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award.
The Emerging Entrepreneur Award was created in 2024 with the purpose of encouraging new growth in the local economy and rewarding ambitious newcomers for taking risks.
An emerging entrepreneur is someone with the ability to identify new business opportunities and act on these opportunities to bring a business venture to life. Emerging entrepreneurs are inspired by all the exciting opportunities available to them and a willingness to take risks to build, launch, and grow their business. They must be able to adapt to changing circumstances in their business, overcome obstacles, and access opportunities to develop their business further. An emerging entrepreneur must also be able to pitch their ideas, sell their product or service to customers, and build a team of employees, mentors, or supporters to assist them along their journey.
Also, the Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. The award, given in honor of Helmuth & Evelyn Heise, is presented to a local entrepreneur(s) for their contributions to the economic growth of Garrett County. The award will
be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on June 4, 2026.
Eligible nominees are business owners, including partners/families that originated, developed, and/or significantly expanded their business. Criteria for this award include: having a willingness to take risks with the possibility of losing all, being involved in the community, having high ethical standards, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and having demonstrated leadership.
To obtain Nomination Forms, please contact Nick Sharps at 301.387.8745 or by email at nick@garrettchamber.com or download the form at visitdeepcreek.com/awards. Additional information on the awards, including past winners are listed on the website.
The awards will be presented at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting & Dinner on June 4, 2026.