Businesses making local community impacts can apply for first-ever business awards

Small businesses (SMBs) have a new opportunity to win up to $10,000 to invest back into their local community in the inaugural 2025 Kinetic Business Awards: Community Champions.

The awards program is a way for Kinetic Business, a leading provider of high-speed fiber internet and supporter of neighborhood businesses, to honor those that are making a meaningful difference in their communities. The awards will recognize SMB excellence across various impact areas including technology adoption and business transformation, environmental stewardship, economic development, or charity and community service.

Designed to shine a light on local small businesses whose community contributions might otherwise be overlooked, the program ties directly back to Kinetic Business’ mission to bridge the digital divide and support customers in unserved and underserved communities across the company’s fiber network footprint.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and add to every city’s vibrancy, yet they are often overshadowed by massive corporations,” said Michael Flannery, president of Kinetic Business. “We see countless examples of these businesses—in the communities we serve and live in, too—being true catalysts for growth, transformation and goodwill. Through the Kinetic Business Awards: Community Champions, we get to recognize and celebrate this leadership, by giving companies that are doing good in the community more resources to do more good things.”

Starting today, anyone can nominate a small business for the 2025 Kinetic Business Awards: Community Champions via an online entry form. Entrants will share a short submission about the SMB of their choice, highlighting the recent impacts this business has had on their local economy, environment, business transformation, or community at large. After a finalist round, three designated Community Champions will receive up to $10,000 toward a qualified charity of their choice. These winners will be announced in August 2025.

“We’re delighted to hear the stories of resolve, empowerment and transformation, demonstrating how small businesses are leading the charge in driving positive developments throughout their neighborhood,” said Cliff Dinwiddie, chief marketing officer of Kinetic Business. “Being a Community Champion means embodying the heart and soul of your local community. It is about the courage to innovate, the passion to lead by example, and the desire to set a standard for giving back that inspires others to follow. Along the way, we plan to share these stories so we can all take inspiration from those making a difference.”

The awards program is open to small businesses who are current Kinetic customers utilizing either Kinetic Business or residential services within the company’s 18-state footprint. Nominations can be submitted by the business itself or by anyone who recognizes their contributions. All nominations must be submitted by July 31, 2025, to be eligible for entry. Details about the nomination process, as well as contest rules, judging procedures and more are available at business.windstream.com/2025-kinetic-business-awards-community-champions. Official entry form, details about the nomination process, as well as contest rules and judging procedures are available on the official awards page.

About Kinetic:

Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers reliable fiber-based broadband to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses in 18 states. The company’s quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services backed by robust security and friendly customer success experts. Kinetic is focused on expanding its fiber network and bridging the digital divide to deliver modern solutions to customers in underserved areas. Additional information about Kinetic is available via our customer portal at GoKinetic.com or windstream.com. The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises, government entities and educational institutions across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is privately held and headquartered in Little Rock, Ark.

Category: Kinetic

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