Rules & Information

Voting Method and Requirements:

• Votes can only be made by completing the online form at https://smfchamberschoice.voterfly.com/rules-and-info.
• All voting entries must have voters’ complete information, including name, email address, and any other required details, or the votes will not be counted.

Voting Limits:

• Each person may vote only once per category.
• Finalists are chosen by online voters who make nominations and/or vote in at least one category.
• Your vote is tied to your device to ensure fairness. If multiple people within the same household wish to vote, they must use separate devices.

Nominee Eligibility:

• Nominees must conduct business within Kalamazoo or immediately surrounding counties or hold an active Southwest Michigan First Chamber membership.
• Eligibility is verified through the Business License database, social media presence, official websites, or other known verification methods.
• For all ownership-based categories, the owner(s) must be at least 51% of the category qualifier. For example, if there are 2 owners of a company and one is a woman, she must have at least 51% ownership to qualify under the Woman-Owned category. 
• For the Business of the Year category, Small is for companies with fewer than 50 employees. Mid/Large is for any company with more than 50 employees.

Voting Period:

• All votes must be received by midnight on Friday, August 22.

Ballot Stuffing and Security Measures:

• If a business is caught “stuffing ballots” or circumventing security measures, its votes will be flagged and removed.
• We use automated software to detect and prevent fraudulent voting practices.

Disqualification and Conduct:

• The Chamber’s Choice facilitators reserve the right to disqualify any business that violates the competition rules or engages in inappropriate conduct, including but not limited to misuse of marketing materials and non-compliance with guidelines.
• Participants who violate the rules may not receive a warning before disqualification.

Permissions and Use of Likeness:

• By participating in Chamber’s Choice, you grant us permission to use your business name, likeness, and image for marketing and promotional materials related to the competition.

Results and Announcements:

• All competition results are held privately by Southwest Michigan First and The Chamber.
• Winners will be announced during the Chamber's Choice Small Business Conference and Celebration, and later on our social media platforms.
• Winners will receive a trophy, promotional materials, and bragging rights!

Purpose of the Competition:

The Southwest Michigan First Chamber is proud to celebrate those who are making a significant impact in the Greater Kalamazoo region. These are the individuals and organizations who are passionate about improving the quality of life in our communities and driving economic growth so that everyone has an opportunity to thrive. We are proud to meaningfully acknowledge and celebrate those organizations that are making our area the absolute best place to live, work, play, and do business.