Florida Rock Products and

Hoshizaki America, Inc. were the two big winners at this

year's Fayette County Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of

Industry Awards" luncheon. The second annual

luncheon was attended by 160 business people at the

Peachtree Wyndham Conference Center.

There are two categories

for the award: companies with less than 50 employees and

those with over 50 employees. The companies must submit

an application and a panel of judges determines a winner

in each category based on the industry's economic impact

and its citizenship. Each category is worth up to 50

points.

The two winners last year

were Florida Rock Products, Tyrone, in the under-50

employees category and Matsushita Communication

Industrial Corp. (Panasonic) took top honors in the

over-50, going on to take first place in the Georgia

Economic Development Association's statewide award.

This year's winners were

Florida Rock Products, Tyrone, for the second year, and

Hoshizaki America took top honors in the over-50

employees category.

Among the areas highlighted

and Scout programs, 100% employee participation in the

United Way, donations to schools and churches, the

Southern Conservation Trust, Inc., and employee

scholarship programs.

Hoshizaki America, a maker

of commercial ice machines, was chosen for its

contributions to educational, civic and charitable

organizations.

It worked with schools,

Scouts, the International Society, the Roosevelt Cup

Wheelchair Basketball, donations by employees and the

company were made to organizations such as Breast Cancer

Foundation, Cancer Society, Red Cross Blood Drive,

Fayette Samaritans Food and Clothing Bank, Kosovo Family

Sponsorship and the United Way, and cash and in-kind

donations to the Fountain at the City Hall, Peachtree

City, schools, Scouts, and local service clubs.

In announcing the awards,

chamber chair-elect, Tate Godfrey, said that the

industrial base in Fayette County represents about 8

percent of ad valorem taxes collected and it represents

18 percent of ad valorem taxes collected in Peachtree

City.

"Today", he said,

"is to celebrate and thank the industries that are

such an important part of Fayette County and the many

contributions they make".