GO TOPEKA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS IN SIX CATEGORIES FOR THE 44TH ANNUAL SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

GO TOPEKA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS IN SIX CATEGORIES FOR THE 44^th ANNUAL SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Topeka, KS — GO Topeka is excited to announce that 18 local businesses have been named finalists for recognition at Topeka and Shawnee County’s 44^th annual Small Business Awards.

Covering six different categories, the 2025 Small Business Awards, organized by GO Topeka and the Greater Topeka Partnership, will be held downtown Thursday, May 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Townsite Avenue Ballroom. At the awards ceremony, attendees will hear about the impact and successes of the community’s thriving small-business scene, and they’ll learn which finalists rose to the top of their respective categories to receive awards.

Awards will be presented in the following categories, with the 2025 Top City Small Business of the Year being selected from among category winners: Micro Enterprise Award, Woman-Owned Small Business Award, Minority-Owned Small Business Award, Veteran-Owned Small Business Award, Legacy in Business Award, and Small Business Manufacturer Award.

“We’re honored to recognize the incredible small businesses and entrepreneurs who drive innovation and growth in Topeka and Shawnee County,” said Stephanie Norwood, director of entrepreneurship and small business for GO Topeka. “This year’s 18 finalists showcase the passion, creativity, and determination that make our business community so strong. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and making this year’s Small Business Awards a truly special event. Congratulations to all!”

Finalists by category are listed here:

• Legacy in Business Award
  • Cortez Transportation Company, Inc.
  • HTK Architects
  • MB Piland Advertising + Marketing
• Micro Enterprise Award
  • La Creperie Co.
  • Over the Top Sandwich Shop
  • The Refinery Medical Aesthetics

• Woman-Owned Small Business Award
  • The Beacon
  • The Brownstone
  • Merit Weight Loss Clinic
• Minority-Owned Small Business Award
  • 151 Entertainment
  • Tender Loving Care Pet Nursing Hotel
  • IPG Building Company
• Veteran-Owned Small Business Award
  • Joy Light Coffee
  • Del-Metrius Herron & Associates
  • Ricks Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery
• Small Business Manufacturer Award
  • PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.
  • Stevenson Company, Inc
  • Capital City Oil, Inc.

Tickets for the 44^th annual Small Business Awards may be purchased online here, or at TopekaPartnership.com under the “Events” tab. To be eligible for an award, small businesses had to be nominated, located within Shawnee County, and maintain 100 or fewer employees, including the owner(s). Evaluation included review of each business’s vision, staying power, growth, innovativeness, response to adversity, and community engagement.

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About GO Topeka

GO Topeka creates county-wide economic success for all companies and citizens through implementation of an aggressive economic-development strategy that capitalizes on the unique strengths of the community. GO Topeka operates under the Greater Topeka Partnership and is the leading economic development agency in the area. For more, visit GoTopeka.com.