Business leaders from around the area will convene tonight at the Holiday Inn for the Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Awards Program.

The event, which is expected to draw more than 340 people, will center around the theme, “Up With Business.”

Fourteen businesses have been nominated for this year’s business of the year, which will be announced tonight at the program.

The annual awards meeting began in 1993 and has since served as a way for local leaders to get together and shine a light on the business happenings in and around Austin.

“Some of it’s social, most of it is about recognition — recognition of businesses that support the Chamber and its activities,” said Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Forstner.

The event is expected to be begin around 7:15 p.m., with awards presented at 8 p.m.

In addition to the Business of the Year award, additional awards will also be divvied out. Additional awards include Project of the Year, New Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and more.

“It’s the largest gathering of members we have during the year,” Forstner said.

Because of that, time is taken to highlight the work community leaders involved with the Chamber.

“It’s an awards and recognition program,” Forstner said. “It’s a celebration of business and their work.”

Last year, Apollo Liquors & Superette was named business of the year.

Business of the year nominees:
•Arc Mower County
•Austin Bruins
•Worlein Funeral Home
•The Restaurant Warehouse
•Berg’s Nursery and Landscape, LLC
•Courtesy Corporation McDonald’s
•Simplified Technology Solutions, LCC
•Sellers Lock and Key
•Y Waste Removal, Inc.
•Healing Palms Spa
•First Farmers and Merchants State Bank
•Greenman Heating and Refrigerating, Inc.,
•Hoversten, Johnson, Beckmann and Hovey, LLP

Other awards:
•Volunteer of the Year
•HR Award of Excellence
•Ambassador of the Year
•Ambassador Team of the Year
•New Business of the Year
•Project of the Year