Applications being accepted for Spirit of Enterprise Awards

<p>As we begin to recover from the recession, many Arizona businesses are working to create new jobs and boost the state’s economy. Some of the best will be honored with this year’s Spirit of Enterprise Awards from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Companies can begin applying now for the 14th annual awards.</p><separator></separator><p>Past winners include well-known companies, such as Cold Stone Creamery and Grand Canyon Railway, as well as other entrepreneurial companies like Answer 1 Communications, which was recently featured by MSNBC as a direct result of receiving a Spirit of Enterprise Award last year.</p><separator></separator><p>These awards recognize businesses that demonstrate ethics, energy and excellence in entrepreneurship. Winners are noted for creating a positive culture both internally and in the community as a whole. This year, a special category called the Spirit Survivor Award will also be added to recognize a business that managed to survive the recession by taking a creative approach.</p><separator></separator><p>About 1,000 Valley business and community leaders are expected to attend the annual awards luncheon when the winners are announced on Sept. 23 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix.</p><separator></separator><p>The award application deadline is July 8. Applicant businesses must:</p><separator></separator><p>1. Be a for-profit enterprise in business for at least four years.</p><separator></separator><p>2. Be incorporated, headquartered or have primary business operations in Arizona.</p><separator></separator><p>3. Have three or more full-time employees.</p><separator></separator><p>4. Demonstrate profitability over the last three years combined (unless applying for the Spirit Survivor Award category).</p><separator></separator><p>The awards are just one focus of the Spirit of Enterprise Center at the W. P. Carey School of Business, which helps hundreds of businesses each year. The center offers companies the chance to recruit and meet with top student talent, while students get hands-on business experience. Through the center, businesses can access other Arizona State University programs and create connections with community resources. Teams of W. P. Carey School of Business students also conduct research projects to help Valley companies through Spirit’s Student Teams for Entrepreneurship Projects (STEP) program. The center is self-funded and utilizes community sponsorships and volunteers.</p><separator></separator><p>For more information on the center or an awards application, go to <a href="http://www.spiritofenterprise.org">www.spiritofenterprise.org</a&gt;. For sponsorship opportunities or awards luncheon reservations, please contact Gary Naumann at (480) 965-0474 or <a href="mailto:SpiritofEnterprise@asu.edu">SpiritofEnterprise@asu.edu</a>.</p&gt;