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We all know of local small businesses that we love to support: the coffee shop that knows your order, the hardware store that sponsors the little league team, the mechanic you trust to fix your car, or the shop you follow on social media just to see what’s new. These businesses do more than provide goods and services; they employ neighbors and help make the town feel like home.
In honor of Small Business Month, Efficiency Smart is giving you a chance to help a local business get an energy efficiency boost. Nominate a small business at the heart of your community to receive up to $3,000 in energy-saving upgrades. You’ll help them lower costs and keep doing what they do best. You might even win a gift card to the business you nominate.
Nominate now
Nominate a standout local shop.
Visit the nomination page to submit your entry by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2026. As a thank you, you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift card to the business you nominated (three winners will be randomly selected). Small businesses can self-nominate, but self-nominations aren’t eligible for the gift card drawing.
See the finalists.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page, where the three finalists, along with and voting details, will be announced when voting kicks off on Monday, June 15.
Vote for the winner.
Cast your vote by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, to help determine the winner. Finalists are encouraged to spread the word and rally their customers.
Celebrate the Best of the Block!
The first, second, and third-place businesses will be announced on social media on Monday, June 29.
Winners will receive:⦁ First-place: $3,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades⦁ Second-place: $2,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades⦁ Third-place: $1,000 toward energy efficiency upgrades
Local and independently owned small businesses with a physical location served by an Efficiency Smart utility are eligible. Businesses must be open to the public and may not operate out of a residence. Examples include but are not limited to: restaurants, mechanic shops, local retailers, and small commercial and industrial businesses. All businesses must be eligible for our Small Business Solutions Program and use less than 250,000 kWh (or have less than approximately $25,000 in annual electric costs) across all locations.
Most franchises are not eligible. An exception may apply if the owner operates only a single franchise location and the business uses less than 250,000 kWh annually (or has less than $25,000 in annual electric costs).
Yes! Small businesses can nominate themselves. Small businesses are not eligible to be entered to win the $50 gift card nomination prize.
There will be a first-, second-, and third-place prize. First place will receive $3,000 toward energy-saving upgrades, second place will receive $2,000, and third place will receive $1,000. In addition, three people who nominated businesses will be randomly selected to win a $50 gift card to the business they nominated.
Prizes will be awarded based on total votes received during the voting portion of the contest.
The prize can be used toward qualifying new electric energy efficiency improvements. Sample projects include:
Project pre-approval is required. Efficiency Smart’s technical team will work with the winning businesses to provide recommendations and help them verify eligibility.
Yes. The prize can be combined with regular rebates from Efficiency Smart if the project costs exceed the prize amounts.
Efficiency Smart will provide the total amount of the project cost up to the prize amount. The winning businesses are not required to spend the full amount.
All projects must be completed and all paperwork must be submitted by December 31, 2026.
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