Area businesses, service providers and local landmarks are continuing to vie for the spotlight this month through the Best of Logan County Contest conducted by the Logan County Visitors Bureau and the Bellefontaine Examiner.
To provide area residents with plenty of time to cast their votes for their favorite locales and organizations, the contest deadline has been extended through Oct. 31.
Visitors Bureau Director Emily Walters and Examiner Advertising Director Bob Chapman said the second annual contest has drawn even more votes thus far, with well over 300 votes tallied online as of last week, with additional paper ballots turned in as well.
“With the daily votes increasing each day, we want to give the community plenty of time to weigh on for the contest,” Chapman said. “Some of the categories have some very close contenders, so we’ll be excited to congratulate the winners in the upcoming weeks after the contest.”
Walters related that the Best Fireworks category is a close competition between the celebrations at Belle Center and Indian Lake.
In addition, she said Richwood Bank is pulling in a number votes for several categories, including Best Place to Work and receiving accolades as a coffee shop and historic site for the new Bellefontaine office, located at the former Carnegie Library. Luxe Salon in Lakeview also has garnered votes in multiple categories as well.
Newspaper readers can find a ballot that they can clip and fill in their selections. Participants are not required to fill in all of the categories, but can fill in as many that interest them.
To reach online readers, the Logan County Visitors Bureau and Bellefontaine Examiner’s websites each will have an online ballot that is available throughout the next month at www.experiencelogancounty.com and www.examiner.org.
Paper ballots can be dropped off or mailed to either the Examiner office, 127 E. Chillicothe Ave., (send by mail to: P.O. Box 40, Bellefontaine, OH, 43311), or the Logan County Chamber of Commerce office, 100 S. Main St., Bellefontaine, OH, 43311, by Oct. 16.
The Examiner office also has a 24-hour drop box available.
Individuals should only vote once, either online or by paper ballot.
Walters said the bureau is excited for the chance to highlight the unique offerings available in the county as well.
“There are so many special small, niche businesses that people might not know about, and we’re happy to help these hard-working people and businesses to take the spotlight, and to spread the word about the good work that they’re doing.
“There also are so many tourist attractions here locally that people might not take advantage of and through the contest, we want to share some of the popular and fun spots to visit in the county.”
Each of the contest winners for the individual categories will receive a certificate and will also be recognized in the Bellefontaine Examiner and through social media as well.
In addition, voters in the contest will be entered to win prizes from the Visitors Bureau and the Examiner, including a free one-year newspaper subscription, $50 Chamber Choice gift certificates and a Better Way to Save bundle.
Following the contest, Walters said the opportunity also exists for some of the winners to be highlighted on the state and national levels as well.
“We believe that we have some of the best spots in Ohio right here in Logan County, and our local businesses and tourist spots deserve recognition, too.”
New this year are the following categories: Car Wash, Construction Company, Live Music, Manufacturer, Veterinarian and Veterinarian Office.
The following categories are returning from last year: Assisted Living Facility; Auctioneer; Auto Repair Shop; Airbnb/Cottage; Antiques; Art Fair; Attraction; Bank; Place to get a beer; Bike Trail; Best Place to Work; Breakfast; Car Dealer; Campground; Casual Dining; City Office; County Office; Coffee Shop; Community Parade; Crematory; Credit Union; Deli; Dental Office; Doctor’s Office; Event; Farm Market; Fireworks; Financial Planner; Florist; Funeral Home; Furniture Store; Golf Course; Grocery Store; Hiking Trail; Health Care Provider; Hotel; History Museum; Historic Landmark; Historic Property; Home Improvement/Repair; Hospice; Ice Cream; Independent Boutique; Information Technology; Insurance Company; Kids Camp; Kids Store; Jewelry Store; Law Office; Lawyer; Long Weekend Destination; Non-Profit Organization; Ohio-Made Candy; Outdoor Dinning/Patio; Optometrist; Place to see fall leaves; Pet Cremation Service; Pizza Shop; Retail Store; Restaurant; Real Estate Office; Realtor; Rehab Facility; Retirement Community; Salon; Spa; ; Shoe Shop; Summer Destination; Tire Shop; Water Company; and Winter Destination.