Applications reopen for 2026 KOSBE Small Business Awards

KINGSPORT — The Kingsport Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship has reopened applications for the 2026 KOSBE Small Business Awards until Oct. 23. According to a recent release, KOSBE heard from local businesses following the original deadline who were interested in applying and made the decision to reopen applications to provide another opportunity to participate. The KOSBE Awards give small business owners the chance to reflect on their successes and celebrate the growth and impact of their business on the community. "Winning the New Business Excellence Award helped us out quite a bit. More customers found us, people trusted us and honestly, it felt good to be told we were doing something right and to keep up the good work," Tim Doughtery, owner of TriCities Electric, said in the release. "It also gave us the opportunity to dig into our company and really look at how we were operating, what we were doing well and how we could do better." Added this year, each of the four 2026 KOSBE Award winners will receive a $1,000 cash prize, presented by Bank of Tennessee -- in addition to the usually awarded marketing and promotional package provided by KOSBE, the Kingsport Chamber and other community business leaders. "Our winners tell us the visibility makes a real difference," Aundrea Salyer, Kingsport Chamber chief business development officer, said in the release. "Adding a cash prize gives them one more way to invest in what comes next." The 2026 KOSBE Awards will recognize businesses in four categories: New Business Excellence Award Staying Power Award Ernie Rumsby Veteran-Owned Business Award Community Impact Award For official rules and to apply, visit https://kosbe.org/kosbes.