CANTON – The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will recognized three businesses at their virtual Annual Dinner on Nov. 19.

The event which typically draws 200 people was held online this year, with the promise to recognize the businesses again in 2021.

The Business of the Year was awarded to the St. Lawrence County Arts Council, headquartered in Potsdam, serving the county.

The award recognizes "a business that has contributed to the growth of the St. Lawrence County economy and brings pride to the business community" according to the County Chamber.

Nominations noted that "the Arts Council quickly shifted during the pandemic to virtual programming, providing a platform for artists to share and sell their work” continuing that "not only did it ensure the important mission of the Arts Council was active, but it provided inspiration for a number of other organizations to use technology and creativity to continue to achieve their missions too."

Founded in 1972, SLC Arts creates and supports multi-disciplinary arts initiatives in the North Country to encourage community and economic development, tourism and entrepreneurship within the arts industry, the chamber said.

The Customer Service Excellence award this year recognizes Kinney Drugs, with stores across St. Lawrence County and headquarters in Gouverneur. The award recognizes "a chamber business that has provided extraordinary service in their delivery of product and/or service to their customers," the chamber said. One person who wrote a nomination told the chamber that she "is always greeted upon arrival and the pharmacist and cashiers engage in friendly conversation…the staff embrace a natural approach to customer service that helps sometimes uncomfortable. visits for health reasons, feel warm and welcoming”.

Kinney Drugs has grown to nearly 100 stores since 1903 and is 100% employee-owned. "Providing pharmacy, health and retail services, while being a strong community partner, has made Kinney Drugs an especially important local business during the pandemic, offering what we need with a comforting smile," the chamber said.

The Local Producer of the Year is going to Five Elements Living Apothecary Chocolates based in Colton.

This award is for "a chamber producer that has developed their capacity for creating and selling a product that is handmade, locally sourced or value added, raising awareness and pride for local products," the chamber said, The handmade, small batch chocolates use natural botanicals, herbs and local maple and birch syrups, as well as collaborations with other local producers. One nomination noted that, “Shelby and her team have been able to create and scale a product with professional branding and high quality ingredients and recipes that embraces the North Country and can now be found in shops across the North Country and beyond."

The chamber has posted the virtual happy hour to their YouTube.com channel and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3725D9z