HomeStreet Bank Announces 'Small Business Spotlight Awards'

June 6, 2006; 04:08 AM

SEATTLE - HomeStreet Bank today announced the launch of the HomeStreet Bank Small Business Spotlight Awards, offered in conjunction with KOMO 1000. The program recognizes five small businesses in the Puget Sound region that demonstrate significant community involvement and/or are a great place to work.

The program is open to any business with fewer than 100 employees located in the greater Puget Sound area between Marysville and Olympia.

The five award recipients will be invited to a special evening of baseball in a luxury suite at Safeco Field on August 23, 2006, when the Seattle Mariners play the New York Yankees. Winners will meet Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus and receive a plaque commemorating the evening. Each business will also be profiled on a KOMO 1000 Small Business Spotlight segment and recognized on the KOMO and HomeStreet Bank web sites.

"The HomeStreet Bank Small Business Spotlight Awards champion small businesses that go the extra mile to contribute to their community," said Joan Enticknap, president of HomeStreet Bank. "It takes a special something, a great deal of commitment and dedication and many long hours to run a successful small business. We are happy to be able to publicly recognize five businesses for the important role they play as great employers and community members."

Businesses may nominate themselves for an award or be nominated by others in their communities. Nomination forms must include a description of the business' involvement in their community and/or ways in which they support their employees, such as through education benefits or providing a family-friendly work culture.

Nomination forms are available beginning Monday, June 12, 2006 at HomeStreet Bank branches and online at www.homestreet.com/spotlight. Completed forms may be submitted at HomeStreet Bank branches or by mail. Nominations must be delivered or postmarked by Wednesday, July 12, 2006 to qualify.

Now in its 85th year, family- and employee-owned HomeStreet Bank has assets of $2.14 billion and a network of 30 branches in the Northwest and Hawaii. HomeStreet Bank offers a full range of financial services including business banking, business lending, consumer banking, mortgage lending, residential construction financing, income property financing and insurance services.