A dozen employers in Lawrence are finalists for local Excellence in Commerce Awards, to be presented by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber announced the finalists Monday in four categories:

¢ Retail: Golf USA, 23rd Street Brewery, Zarco 66.

¢ Service: BG Consultants, James F. Otten D.D.S., CEK Insurance.

¢ Manufacturing/Distribution: Kinedyne, Hallmark Cards Inc., Pur-O-Zone.

¢ Nonprofit: Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center Inc., Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Ballard Community Services.

A fifth award, the Bob Billings Rising Star Award, will be given by the chamber to an outstanding company that has shown recent growth and dedication to the Lawrence community.

Finalists in Retail, Manufacturing/Distribution and Service categories will be considered for statewide business excellence awards, to be presented next year by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The state awards program honors employers in seven regional competitions, and recognizes five finalists and the winner of the Governor’s Award of Excellence. Top presentations are made during June, which is Business Appreciation Month. The Governor’s Award of Excellence is presented during the annual Kansas Cavalry Encampment, a gathering of economic-development leaders and supporters of business development.

The local awards will be presented during a breakfast celebration at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 11 in the ballroom at the Kansas Union. Tickets are $15 a person and are available by calling the chamber at 865-4411 or clicking on www.lawrencechamber.com.

This is the fifth year that the Lawrence chamber has participated in the awards program, which judges nominated companies on areas ranging from business stability and growth to community involvement.