The voting round is now open for Leader Publications’ first-ever Best of Jefferson County contest.
Today, May 15, through May 29, you may vote for your favorite local businesses, organizations and attractions to be named the “best” across 131 categories.
“This is your moment to give appreciation to local businesses and let people know, ‘This is something you should check out,’” said Katelyn Mary Skaggs, the Leader’s digital marketing manager.
People may vote once a day in as many categories as they like online at myleaderpaper.com/bestof.
To vote, go to the webpage, click “Sign In to Continue Voting” underneath the countdown clock, register with your information to sign in, select one of 14 groups, then click the “Vote” button next to any of the nominee names.
Those who participated in the nomination round, which closed on April 24, may sign back in using the same email they registered with.
Area residents submitted more than 1,000 nominations during the previous round. All nominees are listed in the May 15 edition of the Leader.
“This is our first year holding the contest, so I had no notion of what the response would be. We had more than 1,000 nominations, and I’m thrilled with that,” Skaggs said. “This contest is designed to highlight businesses and organizations local to Jefferson County, and our readers stepped up.”
Votes will determine the first-place winner and two finalists in each category, which will be announced in the June 26 edition of the Leader.
Categories are split into 14 groups: Arts & Entertainment; Automotive; Beer, Wine & Liquor; Body & Soul; Destinations; Dining Out; Finance; Food; Health; Home; Kids & Education; Pets; Services; and Shopping.
The Home group, for example, includes the most categories, such as Best Real Estate Agent, Best Landscape Company, Best Electrical Company and Best Moving Company.
The Jefferson County Growth Association is the title sponsor for the contest. Pettus Automotive, Hotshots Sports Bar & Grill, Brookdale Farms, La Pachanga Mexican Restaurant in Herculaneum, Evolve Wellness, B.F. Mahn & Sons Inc., and the Kimmswick Merchants Association are group sponsors, with other area businesses and organizations sponsoring categories.
For more information, call Leader Publications at 636-931-7560 or email news@myleaderpaper.com.