SAGE Awards

The SAGE Awards, Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, recognize the outstanding efforts, talent, creativity, and innovation in northeastern Pennsylvania.


Applications are now closed. 2022 SAGE Awards Finalists Announced.

Applicants must be members of The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce in good standing in order to apply.

Applicants may not apply for an award received in the past – unless it is one of the following two awards  –  Best Practices in Marketing and Communications and Hometown Star. Previous award winners are invited to submit in these categories again, as long as the project is a new endeavor and notably different from your prior award achievement.

A volunteer judging committee, comprised of a diverse group of community leaders, scores all applications that meet the eligibility criteria. Chamber staff does not participate in the process. Decisions are final. Results cannot be shared. All scores are tallied and the three highest applications advance to finalist status.

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Award Categories

Best Practices in Community Involvement

Recognizes a business that demonstrates a commitment to serving its community through volunteering and philanthropy.

  • Community involvement must have taken place within the last year
  • Must be fully operational for at least one year

2022 Finalists:

  • Settlers Hospitality
  • Titan Tree Service, inc.
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot

Best Practices in Customer Service

Recognizes a business who demonstrated exemplary care and compassion which has increased client satisfaction and retention.

  • Must be fully operational for at least one year

2022 Finalists:

  • Century Dental Associates
  • CTB Studio
  • Northeast Music Center Inc

Best Practices in Marketing and Communications

Recognizes an in-house marketing department or advertising firm for creative excellence in ONE advertising campaign. The campaign must use THREE of the following media or methods: newspaper, consumer/trade publication, outdoor board, direct marketing mailer, brochures, stationery package, annual report, magazine/book publication, poster, special event material, mass transit/bus board, radio, television, or online ads.

  • Previous award winners are invited to submit in this category again if the project is a new endeavor and is notably different from previous win
  • Must be fully operational for at least one year

2022 Finalists:

  • Golden Technologies
  • Market Share Consulting
  • Settlers Hospitality


Business of the Year

Recognizes a business, with more than 10 employees, for its accomplishments and operational successes.

  • Must be financially stable and operational for more than three years
  • Must be a for-profit business
  • Two part-time employees = one full time employee

2022 Finalists:

  • Disaster Blaster
  • Montage Mountain Resorts
  • United Sports Academy

Fastest Growing Company

Recognizes a business whose dynamic revenue growth over a three-year period, both dollar and percentage increases, has greatly contributed to the strength of our local economy.

  • Must have revenue of at least $100,000 in TWO out of three fiscal years ending 2019, 2020, 2021
  • Must show revenue growth in 2021, as compared to 2019  
  • Can be for-profit or non-profit organizations, except for government entities and charitable organizations (including 501(c)3 organizations)
  • Must submit ONE of the following forms for each of the three tax years 2019, 2020, 2021:
    • For an S-Corporation: Page 1 of Form 1120S “U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation” showing lines 1a, 1b, and 1c (gross receipts)
    • For a C-Corporation: Page 1 of Form 1120 “U.S. Income Corporation Tax Return” showing lines 1a, 1b, and 1c (gross receipts)
    • For a Partnership: Page 1 of Form 1065 “U.S. Return of Partnership Income” showing lines 1a, 1b, and 1c (gross receipts)
    • For a Sole Proprietor: Schedule C “Profit or Loss from Business” from Form 1040 showing Part 1, lines 1, 2, 3 (gross receipts)
    • For a Non-Profit Organization: Page 1 of Form 990 “Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax” showing Part 1, line 9 (program service revenue)
    • Financial information and/or revenue amounts will not be printed and will be kept confidential.
    • Once your application has been reviewed by the Chamber, you will receive a separate email from a secure portal to upload the above information.
  • Note: Applicants must submit a waiver/confidentiality agreement.  Additionally, this award has a two-step process and requires applicants to upload financial documents via a secured third-party website.

2022 Finalists:

  • FNCB
  • Nibbles & Bits
  • United Sports Academy

Hometown Star

Recognizes an individual, business, or organization that has made a significant economic impact on our area by conducting an event with a rich social, historical and charitable contribution in our area.

  • Previous award winners are invited to submit in this category again if the project is a new endeavor and is notably different from a previous win
  • Event must have taken place within the last year

2022 Finalists:

  • Camp Freedom, Inc.
  • Scranton Area Foundation — NEPA Gives
  • United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

New and Emerging Business of the Year

Recognizes an emerging business that has demonstrated a capacity for creativity and innovation, experienced growth and that has established itself as a leader in its industry.

  • Must be financially stable and operational for at least one year and no more than three years
  • Must be a for-profit business
  • Applicants for this award are not eligible to apply for Small Business of the Year
  • If applicant has previously won Small Business of the Year, they are not eligible to apply for this award

2022 Finalists:

  • EMOBILE GYM FITNESS LLC
  • The Prescription Center-Cherry Street
  • THEKIMMY

 Non-Profit Organization of the Year

Recognizes a non-profit organization that demonstrates excellence in society, financial stability, marketing and strategic alliances – all in the pursuit of its mission.

  • Must be financially stable and operational for a minimum of three years
  • Must be a 501(c)(3) organization benefiting Lackawanna County
  • Government entities, business entities, individuals and academic organizations are not eligible

2022 Finalists:

  • Camp Freedom Inc.
  • Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley
  • Northeast Pennsylvania Youth For Christ, Inc.

People’s Choice

Celebrates the community’s favorite SAGE Award finalist through online voting. The finalist with the most votes received will be named People’s Choice.


IMPACT Awards

Recognizes a business or organization that has demonstrated creativity, adaptation, and perseverance.  Applicants may qualify and apply for all three awards.

Community Outreach: Recognizes creative expansion, collaborations, or adaptations within a business or organization for the purpose of addressing significant community needs

2022 Finalists:

  • Penn State Scranton
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot
  • WVIA

People and Culture: Recognizes a business or organization that has gone above and beyond to ensure the well-being of their employees. This can include safe work environments, restructuring, retention of employees, as well as compensation, childcare, flexibility, and remote work

2022 Finalists:

  • Coal Creative
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot
  • United Sports Academy

Products and Services: Recognizes a business or organization for pivoting and transforming its core business model or creating new methods/services/products in order to address customer and community needs

2022 Finalists:

  • Alleima
  • Fidelity Bank
  • Inspired Studio

Small Business of the Year

Recognizes a business, with 10 or fewer employees, for its accomplishments and operational successes.

  • Must be a for-profit business
  • Must be fully operational for more than three years
  • Two part-time employees = one full time employee
  • Applicants for this award are not eligible to apply for New and Emerging Business of the Year

2022 Finalists:

  • Blu Elefante Events
  • Nibbles & Bits
  • The Training Loft, LLC