Three local small businesses were recognized during National Small Business Week at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 19th annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Syracuse on Friday, May 5.
Small businesses are selected for the Excellence Awards based on their company’s longevity, innovation, sales growth, increased employment, ability to overcome adversity or community contributions.
Solvay Bank honored ATL Plumbing & Mechanical, LLC based in Chittenango with a 2017 Small Business Excellence Award. ATL Plumbing & Mechanical is a commercial plumbing contractor owned and operated by Alfio and Tina LaRosa.
ATL serves the healthcare, education, industrial, apartment, hotel and office sectors in CNY and surrounding areas. With support from Solvay Bank, the Onondaga Small Business Development Center and SBA-backed financing, ATL has grown from a one person operation to a company that now employees 12 journeymen and apprentice plumbers in the CNY area. Some of ATL’s clients include: Hampton Inn (Cazenovia), Aspen Heights Student Housing (Syracuse), Syracuse University, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Oneida Healthcare, Southern Wine & Spirits, Tessy Plastics, and Currier Plastics.
The Partnership for Community Development honored Flour & Salt Bakery based in Hamilton with a 2017 Small Business Excellence Award. Flour & Salt Bakery started in 2015 when Britty Buonocore began selling
bagels and other baked goods at the Hamilton Farmers Market. Britty and co-owner, Brendan O’Connor, soon started the steps to establish a brick and mortar bakery that opened in Hamilton a year later. They sell New York style bagels, breakfast sandwiches, baked goods, great coffee, and other local retail products. All baked goods are made in house and from scratch. There are currently 12 employees on the Flour & Salt team, including five full-time. The bakery plans to grow by adding a lunch menu, fresh breads, and evening hours within the year.
NY Small Business Development Center Onondaga honored Good Nature Brewing, Inc. owned by Carrie Blackmore based in Hamilton with a 2017 Small Business Excellence Award. Good Nature Farm Brewery & Tap Room, located in Hamilton is New York State’s first Farm Brewery. Good Nature handcrafts all-natural beer using local ingredients. Good Nature wholesales its products in 31 counties in New York State and operates both a Farm Brewery with locavore restaurant on site at its headquarters as well as a Tap Room in downtown Hamilton.
“The 19th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon gives us the opportunity to celebrate our business community leaders for their small business successes,” said Bernard J. Paprocki, SBA Syracuse district director. “Entrepreneurs find success not by avoiding failure but by dreaming the impossible and taking chances. From Main Street stores to cyber merchants and all the companies in between, small businesses keep our economy innovative and vibrant.”