Nominations Close Friday for Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s A+ Awards

AMHERST — There is still time to nominate an outstanding individual, business, or organization for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 A+ Awards before the nomination form closes on Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.

Each year, the Amherst Area Chamber presents the A+ Awards to individuals and organizations that enrich the life of the community through their work in business, education, and civic engagement. The awards recognize impact across the chamber’s service area of Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, and Sunderland.

“The A+ Awards are an opportunity to lift up the people, partnerships, and local leadership that make the Amherst area such a vibrant place to live, work, learn, and do business,” said Jacob Robinson, executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “There is remarkable work happening across our region every day, often through sustained service, quiet leadership, creative problem solving, and deep commitment to community. As the nomination deadline approaches, we encourage community members to help bring those stories forward by submitting nominations for deserving candidates across this year’s award categories.”

Community members are invited to submit nominations in the following award categories:

• Legacy Award: Honors a person or enterprise whose long-standing leadership, service, and contributions have strengthened the Amherst area.

• Leader in Innovation Award: Celebrates forward-thinking leadership that brings new ideas, models, or solutions to the way the Amherst area lives, works, and learns.

• Leader in Sustainability Award: Recognizes meaningful commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable practices, and a more resilient future for the Amherst area.

• Emerging Business Leader Award: Highlights a rising business or professional whose presence, leadership, and impact show strong promise for the future.

• Community Service Award: Honors outstanding service, outreach, and generosity that enrich the lives of people across the Amherst area.

• Chamber MVP: Celebrates a committed chamber partner who embodies the chamber’s mission as a convener, connector, and catalyst.

All nominations can be submitted online through the chamber’s nomination form at amherstarea.com/awards. Chamber membership is not required to submit a nomination or be selected as an A+ awardee, and there is no limit to the number of nominations an individual may submit.

The 2026 A+ awardees will be honored at the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual A+ Awards Dinner. This year’s event, presented by PeoplesBank, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12 at the UMass Student Union Ballroom in Amherst.

For more information about the A+ Awards and sponsorship opportunities, visit amherstarea.com/awards or contact the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.