Rockridge Orchards and Cidery Receives King County Executive’s Small Business Award

Update: Enumclaw's  has indeed emerged as a winner in the first annual .

At a gathering this morning in Bellevue, the local business was recognized for achieving excellence in one of the traditional rural industry clusters - agriculture, forestry, equine, home-based, or other, according an announcement from King County this afternoon. 

Two other King County businesses were in contention for this recognition: Jubilee Biodynamic Farm, Inc., in Carnation, and Olympic Nursery in Woodinville.

to read Patch's report from Rockridge earlier this summer.

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The rural economy is an important link to the urban area and provides opportunities for residents to both live and work in the rural area. The King County Strategic Plan King County supports rural economic development that maintains the character of the rural area. This award recognizes the rural small business that has achieved excellence in one of the traditional rural industry clusters - agriculture, forestry, equine, home-based, or other.

Will Enumclaw's  emerge as a winner in the first annual ?

The results will be in this morning.

Rockride Orchards and Cidery is a finalist in the Rural Small Business of the Year category.

King County Executive Dow Constantine – in partnership with award sponsors Microsoft Corporation, KeyBank, enterpriseSeattle, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and the Small Business Partners for Prosperity – named 21 finalists in seven categories for the first annual King County Executive’s Small Business Awards in August of this year.

The winners will be honored this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 12 at a reception from 7:15-9 a.m. at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street in Bellevue.

More than 125 nominations received from 30 Award Partners – chambers of commerce, cities and business organizations across the county. More than 250 representatives from throughout the county are expected to attend the awards reception.

“My priority is build prosperity and get people back to work, and small businesses will lead the way as they create the majority of new jobs in our economy,” said Executive Constantine. “I am pleased to honor small businesses by recognizing the best of them, and celebrating the entrepreneurs who are achieving excellence and putting people back to work.” 

Four of the 21 finalists are Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers under King County’s Contracting Opportunities Program, which works to provide greater contracting opportunities for small businesses.

The awards are in partnership with award sponsors Microsoft Corporation, KeyBank, enterpriseSeattle, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and the Small Business Partners for Prosperity.

The program is aimed to recognize small businesses throughout King County that best demonstrate innovation and excellence. The nominees are: 

Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Lightel Technologies, Inc.  (Renton)

• Molly Moon Handmade Ice Cream  (Seattle)

• Trophy Cupcakes and Party  (Seattle)

Minority Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Chameleon Technologies, Inc.  (Kirkland)

• General Microsystems, Inc.  (Bellevue)

• Triple XXX Rootbeer  (Issaquah)

Woman Small Business of the Year Finalists

• JTS Manage Services  (Seattle)

• Ombrella Inc.  (Kirkland)

• PRR Inc.  (Seattle)

Exporting Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Pascal International  (Bellevue)

• Paula's Choice, Inc.   (Renton)

• TransNET Inc.  (Issaquah)

Green/Sustainable Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Eco Cartridge Store   (Kirkland)

• General Biodiesel   (Seattle)

• WorldCNG  (Kent)

Workforce Development Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Lin & Associates, Inc.  (Seattle)

• Schemata Workshop, Inc.  (Seattle)

• Seidelhuber Iron and Bronze Works  (Seattle)

Rural Small Business of the Year Finalists

• Jubilee Biodynamic Farm Inc.  (Carnation)

• Olympic Nursery   (Woodinville)

•    (Enumclaw)

*Editor's Note: Information for this report was provided by the King County Executive.