Seventeen Austin-area businesses will go home with awards tonight for outstanding performance in Customer Service, Commitment to Community, Commitment to Education and Innovation at the Greater Austin Chamber's Fifth Annual Business Awards Banquet. In each category, winners have been chosen from Non-Profit, Small Business, Medium-Sized Business and Large Business divisions. One lucky non-profit organization will walk away with the $5,000 Freescale Award.

Chamber Chair Kirk Watson of Hughes & Luce LLP and Chair-Elect Tim Crowley, President-Austin Community Banking Group, Frost Bank, will present the awards at the Hilton Austin during the Swing-Era themed evening.

“These businesses nominated represent some of the best and brightest in our area,” Watson said. “They are working hard every day to make a difference in our region and to put our great city on the map.”

And the winners are:

Commitment to Community
Non-Profit: Meals on Wheels and More—“The numbers say it all, 720,000 meals delivered, 30,000 phone calls to check on the homebound.”
Small Business: Higginbotham and Associates, Inc.—“Innovative community involvement, employees contribute $10 to wear jeans on Friday.”
Medium-Sized Business: David Weekley Homes—“They built a Habitat for Humanity home for a single Mom in just seven days.”
Large Business: Wells Fargo Bank —“Half a million dollars contributed to community organizations plus paid leaves for volunteers.“

Commitment to Education
Non-Profit: Junior League of Austin—“Empowering Hispanic girls to stay in school.“
Small Business: Cole & Powell, P.C.—“Giving back by volunteering on boards and in education programs.”
Medium-Sized Business: Washington Mutual Bank—“Teaching people to manage money starting in elementary school.”
Large Business: H-E-B—“Recognizing outstanding educators and contributing gift cards to schools.”

Customer Service
Non-Profit: Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TG)—“Kindness and consideration to student loan applicants”
Small Business: ETS Global Chauffeured Services, Ltd.—“Their CEO phones customers to ask about their experience with his company.”
Medium-Sized Business: David Weekley Homes—“Free inspection and repairs 10 months after move-in.”
Large Business: Enterprise Rent-A-Car—“Setting a friendly tone for your visit to Austin.”

Innovation:
Non-Profit: Austin Habitat for Humanity—“Selling reusable building materials to finance homes for low-income people.”
Small Business: Get the Picture, Inc.—“Providing wireless on-site studio and digital lab services.” Medium-Sized Business: Raba-Kistner Consultants, Inc.—“Consolidating all construction inspection, testing and audit data into one management decision-making system.”
Large Business: Wayport, Inc.—“Pioneering in-site mobile workers' instant communication.”

Freescale Non-Profit Award:Assistance League of Austin—“Partnering with SteinMart in the Trade In-Trade Up Program, the Assistance League exchanges SteinMart discount coupons for gently used clothing then sells the clothing for funds to provide assistance to the needy.”