Stanly Chamber extends nomination deadline for annual awards

Published 3:35 pm Wednesday, February 4, 2026

ALBEMARLE — Anyone wishing to participate in the nomination process for the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Annual Meeting and Awards still has time to do so.

On Jan. 28, the chamber announced it had pushed back the nomination deadline from Jan. 29 to noon on Feb. 11.

Award nomination forms, along with $50 event tickets, are available at stanlychamber.org. The forms can be downloaded, completed and returned by email to [email protected].

“Recognizing excellence takes time, so we’ve extended our award nomination deadline to Wednesday, Feb. 11,” the organization said in a statement. “Help us celebrate the people who make our community thrive. The evening includes a delicious dinner, the transition of the Chamber’s Leadership Board and an inspiring vision for Stanly County’s economic future. Don’t miss this milestone celebration of 90 years of business service in Stanly County.”

The chamber’s annual meeting and awards ceremony is scheduled for March 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Room at Atrium Health Stanly. During the event, the Stanly Chamber will announce its Ambassador of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year award winners.

The organization will also introduce a new honor this year: Nonprofit Organization of the Year.

“We are thrilled to announce an exciting new addition to our annual honors,” the Stanly Chamber said of the new category. “We know that our local nonprofits are the heart of this county, and it is time we officially recognized their mission-driven work with an award of their own. Be the first to help us make history by nominating a deserving organization.”

The Nonprofit Organization of the Year category is open to chamber member nonprofits — civic, religious or service-oriented — that were founded in Stanly County and fulfill their missions through local programming and by addressing community challenges.

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas are the presenting sponsors for the 2026 Annual Meeting and Awards; additional sponsors include Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, Atrium Health and Uwharrie Bank.

Based in Albemarle and established in 1936, the Stanly Chamber is an independent nonprofit organization focused on fostering local economic growth and supporting professional businesses through networking and advocacy.

The Stanly Chamber has several events scheduled throughout February, including ribbon cuttings for the upgraded Agri-Civic Center on Feb. 5 and Clefnote Music Group on Feb. 13. The chamber will also host a Women in Business networking event at The Art Place on Feb. 12 and a Business After Hours networking event at Emricci Pizzeria on Feb. 19.