The 2021 Spotlight Award winners, from left: Keith Hart (Big Daddy’s Bike, Ski & Brew), Tiffany Sargent (Lucky Beaver Bar & Burger), Mario Lobatos (Anytime Fitness – Gardnerville) and Ben and Amber Larimer (CoCoMoes).
Courtesy Photo
For the eighth year, several Douglas County businesses were recognized with a Spotlight Award. This year’s awards were announced at the hybrid Carson Valley Critical Issues Conference held Sept. 30.
Douglas County paused the traditional awards — which usually recognize businesses in seven industry categories — in 2020 due to the pandemic.
This year there was only one category – the Community Spirit Award; to be eligible, businesses had to be viable during pandemic closures, adapt to changing conditions and give back to the community and/or public sector, according to a Sept. 30 press release.
Recommendations were made based on input from organizations such as the local Chambers of Commerce, Main Street Gardnerville, Nevada Small Business Development Center and Business Council of Douglas County.
Winners were Anytime Fitness – Gardnerville, Big Daddy’s Bike, Ski & Brew, CoCoMoes and Lucky Beaver Bar & Burger.
“For businesses, this past year can certainly be described as ever-changing and uncertain, but even during these pandemic times, it remained important to Spotlight our local businesses that continue to strengthen the community, each in their own unique way,” Douglas County Economic Vitality Manager Lisa Granahan said in a statement. “The fact that so many people stepped up to provide for the community, as exemplified by these four, reflects the values our local businesses hold.”
Each winner received an engraved lantern with a glowing flameless candle symbolic of keeping the “Economic Vitality” torch lit in creating a “Community to Match the Scenery,” according to the release.
