By CAROLYN CARY
Contributing Writer

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 by Florida Rock Products were participation in schools 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”.

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