The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry will honor VISTA Today at its 2018 Small Business Awards Breakfast and Annual Meeting on Jan. 24 from 7:30-9:30 AM at the Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester.

The event is designed to spotlight the important role that small businesses have in Chester County’s economy. VISTA Today, led by publisher Ken Knickerbocker, will be presented with the Small Business of the Year Award.

The minimum criteria for a business to be eligible for the Small Business of the Year Award is chamber membership and fewer than 75 employees. It is also necessary for a business to have been in operation for at least five years, to be successful in its industry, and to be active in the community.

“VISTA Today is a small business success and, even more importantly, a business development partner for all businesses in our region,” said Guy Ciarrocchi, the CCCBI’s President and CEO. “VISTA’s online presence has become an important part of our business community’s information sharing – and good news storytelling.

“Ken has become omni-present across the region – and a welcomed and valued presence.”

Conceived in 2013 and launched with help from both the Chamber as well as Chester County Economic Development Council in late 2014, VISTA Today celebrates Chester County’s quality of place and economic health by publishing curated and original stories on the county’s assets: its commercial, cultural, and community news and events.

VISTA Today now has nearly 20,000 subscribers to its daily newsletter, and its success prompted the creation of sister publications in Delaware County (DELCO Today) and Montgomery County (MONTCO Today), as well as in Coatesville (COATESVILLE Today).

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In addition to the Small Business of the Year Award, CCCBI’s Nonprofit of the Year Award will be given to “The Community of West Chester” for its selfless, compassionate, and supportive response to the recent tragic fire at Barclay Friends.

“While Chester County has dozens of important nonprofits, many of whom we have honored, our executive board recognized that, this year, what we really wanted to honor was volunteerism – a key component of any viable nonprofit,” said Ciarrocchi. “The heroic efforts of West Chester first responders, the dedication of WCU and its students, and the countless businesses and families that opened their homes, their businesses, and wallets to the victims of the fire was nothing short of inspirational.

“We are humbled by their efforts and proud to salute them.”

Linda McMahon, a politician and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration who was nominated to the position by Donald Trump, is the Jan. 24 breakfast event’s keynote speaker. Her surname is synonymous with professional wrestling, as her husband Vince McMahon is the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Anyone may attend the CCCBI’s 2018 Small Business Awards Breakfast and Annual Meeting. Tickets for chamber members are $50, while tickets for non-members are $60.

Click here to register, or, if you would like more information, contact Emily Good, the Chamber’s Director of Events, at 610-725-9100 or emily@cccbi.org.

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