ELLSWORTH – The Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of the 2026 Best of Awards competition, an annual community-wide celebration recognizing the businesses and organizations that make the Ellsworth area a great place to live, work, dine, and shop. This year’s theme, “The Big Hits,” shines a spotlight on the local favorites that consistently strike a chord with residents and visitors to our region.

Round One voting is now open and runs through Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, inviting the public to vote for their favorite Chamber member businesses across nine award categories. These categories include Best New Business, Best Restaurant/Bar/Tavern, Best Tourism Destination/Attraction, Best Health & Wellness, Best Professional Service, Best Home Service, Best Retail Shopping, Best Non-profit/Civic/Religious Organization, and Best Customer Service.

The top three vote-getters in each category will advance to Round Two, which runs Friday, Jan. 30 through Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Winners will be announced at the Ellsworth Chamber’s Shake, Rattle ’n Roll Awards Dinner in February.

“The Best of Awards are about more than choosing winners,” said Kim Beebe, Executive Director of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce. “They’re a way for the community to show appreciation for the businesses that serve the Ellsworth area year-round. At the same time, voting introduces people to the incredible variety of local businesses we have—sometimes even ones they didn’t know existed.”

The competition encourages community engagement by giving residents a voice in celebrating excellence while fostering pride in Ellsworth’s vibrant business community. Voting takes place online at www.ellsworthchamber.com/best-of-awards. Community members are encouraged to vote and support their favorite local businesses, explore the categories to discover new ones, and help celebrate Ellsworth’s “Big Hits.”

Submitted by Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce