26th Annual Blue Chip Award Changes Date, Announces New Partnership with Local Organizations

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Aug. 27, 2020 – The 26th annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award is announcing exciting changes. Coordinated and sponsored by McGriff, a subsidiary of Truist Insurance Holdings, for 26 years, the renowned community event will now be co-produced with the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO), the Horizon Council, and the Horizon Foundation. It will also be postponed to May 2021.

“Blue Chip has been a red-letter day in our community for many years. However, just as we began discussions with the Lee County EDO, Horizon Council, and Horizon Foundation about making this an even bigger event by co-branding and combining resources, COVID-19 hit. We’ll continue our plans to expand the event but we also recognize the need for community safety right now. After we surveyed our endorsers, we believed it was the best course of action to postpone the event until the second quarter of 2021. Despite this adversity, we’ll continue the Blue Chip program and we’re honored to be part of this collaboration with local organizations as well. It’s a ‘win-win’ for businesses and future honorees,” said Scott Gregory, Blue Chip program coordinator.

In keeping with its founding principles, the Blue Chip program will recognize small business owners who have overcome adversity to achieve success. Thriving for-profit companies with their primary office located in Charlotte, Collier, or Lee County may apply. Eligible businesses must have been in continuous operation for at least three years under the same ownership and have five to 400 payroll employees. Registration for the event will remain free.

Additional details about the event including the new location and time, as well as information about applications for the Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award are forthcoming.

For information about the Blue Chip Award program, please contact Scott Gregory at SPGregory@mcgriffinsurance.com.

The 2019 endorsers of the Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award included the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte County Economic Development Office, Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida, City of Cape Coral Economic Development Office, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida SouthWestern State College, Florida Weekly, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, Gulfshore Business, Hodges University, Lee County Economic Development Office/Horizon Council, Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Florida Business Today, Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The Chamber of Southwest Florida, The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.

About McGriff
McGriff, which comprises McGriff Insurance Services, Inc. and McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc., is a full-service insurance broker providing risk management and insurance solutions to clients across the United States. The firm’s coverages include commercial property and casualty, corporate bonding and surety services, cyber, management liability, captives and alternative risk transfer programs, small business, employee benefits, title insurance, personal lines, and life and health. McGriff is a subsidiary of Truist Insurance Holdings, Inc.

Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award

Winners Years Previous

2019 Pelican Wire
2018 NGALA Wildlife Preserve
2017 Siesta Pebble
2016 Billy’s Rentals
2015 Gwendolyn’s Café and Catering Company
2014 Lee County Plumbing Supply, Inc.
2013 East West Veterinary Care Center
2012 ServiceMaster- CCS
2011 Parson Masonry, Inc.
2010 JRL Ventures/Marine Concepts
2009 Old Monty’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
2008 The Indigo Room

LEE COUNTY COLLIER COUNTY

2007 LeeSar Healthtrust Partners Media Vista Corporation
2006 Fox Electronics Mikkelsen’s Pastry Shop
2005 Congress Jewelers Island Café
2004 Invest SW Title Services Arturo’s Ristorante Italiano
2003 Priority Marketing Clean Air & Allied Supply
2002 Christ Centered Book and Music The Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild
2001 Gulf Coast Printing Services Ark Naturals Products for Pets

The following companies were state honorees in the Blue Chip Enterprise Awards program, a national program that ran from 1994-2000:

2000 Cornerstone Financial Advisory, Inc.
Komputer Integration Service Specialist (K.I.S.S.)
Leather Medic, Inc.
Pinchers Crab Shack
Unified Marine, Inc.
Wellington Academy, Inc.
1999 Markham Norton Stroemer & Company, CPAs
The Chiropractic Practice of Dr. Lana Perkins
1998 Easy Picker Golf Products
R.J. Wire and Cable
1997 Computer Rescue Squad (National Winner)
King Landscaping & Sod of Southwest Florida
1995 The MARC of the Professionals
1994 Fireservice, Inc.