Nominations are up for 2023 "Light Up Local Firefly Awards"

Feb 17, 2023 at 07:26 am by WGNS


(RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN)  Locally Owned Murfreesboro and Smyrna Independent Merchants Association are excited to announce that nominations are open for the 2023 Light Up Local Firefly Awards.

Light Up Local, set for Tuesday, April 25, 2023, promises to be an exciting evening of local food, music and the presentation of the second annual Firefly Awards.

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The Firefly Awards is a people's choice awards celebration of independent businesses.

“We have designed the contest to highlight the importance of supporting independent businesses by showcasing locally owned businesses in both Murfreesboro and Smyrna in carefully selected categories,” said Missy Lay, president of Locally Owned Murfreesboro.

LOM and SiMA is collecting nominations in 13 categories for independent businesses in Smyrna and Murfreesboro starting Jan 13. You can nominate your favorite local business at locallyownedmurfreesboro.org/nominations.

"For the month of January, people can nominate their favorite businesses, then starting February 6, all nominees will be placed on our site for everyone to vote," said Jamonn Brady, president of SiMA. 

The categories are:

  • WGNS Good Neighbor of the Year

This award is presented to a locally owned business or business owner who has given of themselves to the community throughout the year. This business or business owner is known for giving back to the community, not just financially, but with time and effort and never wants recognition.

Last Year’s Winners were Spread the Positive for Murfreesboro and Smyrna Ready Mix for Smyrna.

  • Best Social Media

This award is presented to a locally owned business that uses social media positively. Whether the business posts are encouraging, positive or entertaining, this business uses social media in such a way that they get noticed.

Last Year’s Winners were Boro Business Lab for Murfreesboro and Front Street Pub for Smyrna.

  • Best Customer Service Award

This award is presented to the locally owned business that ensures customer requirements are handled quickly and efficiently. Day after day, they are answering questions, finding information, and providing assistance. This locally owned business strives to keep their customers for life.

Last Year’s Winners were Simply Pure Sweets for Murfreesboro and Janarty's for Smyrna.

  • Best Nonprofit

This award is presented to a local non-profit organization that strives to strengthen our community. Regardless of who the nonprofit serves, they enrich our community by giving back and making the area better through service, kindness and charitable acts throughout our county.

Last Year’s Winners were Murfreesboro Muslim Youth and Smyrna’s Sam Davis Home.

  • Best Restaurant

This award is presented to a locally owned restaurant that exceeds expectations through food quality, customer service and overall atmosphere. When you visit this restaurant, you always leave wanting to come back for more and you tell everyone you meet about it.

Last Year’s Winners were Primrose Table for Murfreesboro and Hickory Falls for Smyrna.

  • Best New Business

This award is presented to a locally owned business that has been around for less than 4 years. This business impresses you with either goods OR services. New to the scene, this business has impressed you in one way or another. 

Last Year’s Winners were for Single Tree BBQ and Southern Flare Cigar Lounge for Smyrna.

  • Best Event

This award is presented to a local business or organization that puts on an amazing event. Whether it is a fundraising occasion or community event, they create an event that either gives back to or creates an opportunity for community. This event gives back to the community.

Last Year’s Winners were Downtown on the Farm for Murfreesboro and Depot Days for Smyrna.

  • Best Night Out

This award is presented to a locally owned business that provides a fun, entertaining and inviting place for a night out. This is a place where you could go for a date and enjoy the area without leaving home. NOT A RESTAURANT, this would be a business that provides a service or experience that you want to tell your friends about.

Last Year’s Winners were Murfreesboro Axe for Murfreesboro and It's 5 O'clock Somewhere for Smyrna.

  • Best Retail Shop

This award is presented to a locally owned business that does RETAIL. They provide an amazing business that has goods for sale, such as clothes, gifts, flowers, etc. This business is known for having the best products for sale with the best service around.

Last Year’s Winners were Re-Invintage Home for Murfreesboro and Red Wagon Nursery for Smyrna.

  • Best Service

This award is presented to a locally owned business that does RETAIL. They provide an amazing business that has goods for sale, such as clothes, gifts, flowers, etc. This business is known for having the best products for sale with the best service around.

Last Year’s Winners were Angel Pardue Photography for Murfreesboro and Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance for Smyrna.

  • Best Locally Owned Franchise

A locally owned franchise is a business in our community that has bought into a franchise, big or small. What makes it locally owned is that all decisions are made by the franchise owner, who lives in and contributes to the local community.

Last Year’s Winners were Card My Yard for Murfreesboro and Chick-Fil-A for Smyrna.

  • Business of the Year Award

This award is presented to a locally owned business that goes above and beyond for the community. Your nomination should be known for its outstanding customer service and leadership in your area. This is the locally owned business that you think of when you think about your town, the place that you can’t imagine your neighborhood without.

Last Year’s Winners were Float Alchemy for Murfreesboro and Front Street Signs for Smyrna.

  • Local Legacy

This award is presented to a locally owned business that has been at the core of writing our city’s story through the years. A staple in our community, this business has been in our town for at least 20 years and continues their legacy of providing a needed service.

Last Year’s Winners were Bangkok Thai Cuisine for Murfreesboro and Karin's Kustard & Hambrugers for Smyrna.

The winners will be honored at Light Up Local at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 at the historic Sam Davis Home in Smyrna.

Food will be provided by a selection of the best restaurants and caterers in Murfreesboro and Smyrna. Local drinkeries will be providing options for drinks, including beer and wine at an additional cost.

To learn more, visit the event page on Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3ksPWI7Ca  or on our website: https://lom.wildapricot.org/event-5152898

 

About Locally Owned Murfreesboro

An affiliate of the American Independent Business Alliance, Locally Owned Murfreesboro was formed in 2016.

The nonprofit is an organization of independent local business owners dedicated to promoting the benefits supporting independent businesses to the community and building a stronger local economy by joining together in marketing, government advocacy and networking.

Learn more at locallyownedmurfreesboro.org, because Murfreesboro Matters.

About Smyrna Independent Merchants Association

Smyrna Independent Merchants’ Association helps independent local businesses compete successfully and reverse the trend of losing our community-based businesses that make our home special.

SiMA drives an ongoing public education campaign to inform customers fully about the benefits of doing business locally. We help shift business to our members by raising awareness of the overall value they offer, and their importance to the character and economic strength of our community.

Learn more at simatn.org