Residents invited to pick their favorite businesses, tourist spots
Local businesses, service providers, landmarks and events took top honors last fall in the first “Best of Logan County” Contest, and continuing the tradition, the contest returns starting today, inviting area residents to cast their votes to help spotlight their favorite establishments.
The Logan County Visitors Bureau and the Bellefontaine Examiner join together for this second annual contest. In today’s edition of the newspaper, readers can find a ballot with more than 60 categories that they can clip and fill in their favorite selections by the Oct. 16 deadline.
To reach online readers as well, the Logan County Visitors Bureau and Bellefontaine Examiner’s websites each will have an online ballot that is available throughout the next month, with the same submission deadline at www.experiencelogancounty.com and www.examiner.org.
“We had an overwhelming response last year, with many residents casting their votes, and we’re excited to bring the contest back again this year,” Examiner advertising director Bob Chapman said.
“Our businesses and service providers in the area deserve to be recognized for all of the efforts they’ve put in during the unusual times we’ve been living in and the many challenges that they’ve overcome. Locally, we’ve even seen a net gain of businesses opening up in the last year in Logan County, despite the pandemic.”
Emily Walters, Logan County Chamber Visitors Bureau director, 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.”
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.
Participants are not required to fill in all of the categories, but can fill in as many that interest them.
Individuals should only vote once, either online or by paper ballot.
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.