Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has announced six Chester County companies are among the 247 finalists for the second annual Governor’s ImPAct Award. The award recognizes companies and entrepreneurs that are creating jobs and making positive contributions to the state’s economy.

Vanguard of Valley Forge and Aerzen USA of Coatesville were nominated for Community ImPAct awards for “doing well by doing good.” Winners in this category show commitment to the growth and development of their employees and community.

JGM, Inc. and Victory Brewing, both of Downingtown, are nominated for Entrepreneur ImPAct Awards. This award is given to an entrepreneur who has led his or her company to a position of strength in the marketplace through growth in creativity, innovation, managerial ability, leadership skills and turnaround.

Sikorsky Global Helicopters of Coatesville is nominated for a Jobs First ImPAct Award. This recognizes a company that has demonstrated consistent job growth and retention over the past two years. The company must have had a positive net gain in new jobs during this time period.

Y-Prime, Inc. of Malvern is nominated for a Small Business ImPAct Award. This will recognize a small business with 100 or fewer employees that has been an innovator within its industry, demonstrated revenue/profit growth, increased its workforce and committed to the growth and development of its employees and community.

Nominations for each award were provided by the state’s regional economic development partners — the Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) network. Each of the 10 PREP regions submitted up to five nominations per category. The Corbett administration developed the PREP network in 2011 to regionalize and coordinate local economic development services to businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provides grants through PREP to local economic development service providers that provide assistance and other resources to support local business expansion and growth.

“Our regional economic development partners work every day to strengthen their communities and are tremendous partners in our commitment to grow the economy and get Pennsylvanians back to work,” Corbett said. “They are often the go-to resource for new ventures and established companies, and help position them for growth and greatness.”

The second annual Governor’s ImPAct Awards ceremony will be held in Hershey on May 30. The awards are being sponsored at no cost to taxpayers by the state’s private sector partner, the Team Pennsylvania Foundation (Team PA), and are being coordinated by DCED, Team PA and Journal Multimedia. Representatives from Team PA and Journal Multimedia will evaluate the nominations and select the award recipients.

“Pennsylvania’s businesses and entrepreneurs are the true drivers of our economy by employing so many hard-working Pennsylvanians,” Corbett said. “I’m proud to stand with some of the men and women who are helping to build a stronger Pennsylvania and applaud the 247 finalists of this year’s ImPAct Awards.”