The annual WestSide Awards sponsored by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce have been announced and Shannon Felix of Avalon Glass has shared the announcement. Atop the awards list are AmericanWest Bank, The Grove West Seattle Inn, Pete Spalding, and the West Seattle Garden Tour.

Here's the announcement:

The results are in! Thank you to all who submitted nominations for The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Program. From a pool of over 40 submissions, the committee has selected AmericanWest Bank (formerly Viking Bank) as the WestSide Business of the Year for 2011. Many nominators mentioned "friendly, personal, and professional" but it was AmericanWest Bank's community involvement and support of local non-profits that earned them the title. All the nominees represented the quality West Seattle businesses which make us proud, including: Mashiko, Ola Salon, Click! Design That Fits, Clementine Shoes, Max and Quinn's Atomic Boys, Link Apartments, Tony's Market, Nurturing Expressions, and Ventana Construction.

To honor new ventures, an award in its second year is WestSide Emerging Business. Congratulations to The Grove West Seattle Inn for being the 2011 recipient and a strong addition to our business community. As West Seattle's only full-service inn, The Grove brings safe, convenient, clean and friendly lodging to our peninsula. Some other new businesses are already making a great impression. Nominees for WestSide Emerging Business of the Year, for those in business less than three years, included: Highline Medical Center Urgent Care, West Seattle Produce Co., The Cove School, Eldercare Consulting, and Les Schwab.

Also in its second year is the Not-For-Profit category, for which The West Seattle Garden Tour has been chosen WestSide Not-for-Profit Business of the Year. A major fund raiser for many non-profits, the West Seattle Garden Tour attracts scores of tour-goers to enjoy our neighborhoods each July. West Seattle is home to some other hard-working Not-for-Profit organizations. Nominees for this award included Transitional Resources, West Seattle Helpline, Sustainable West Seattle, WestSide Baby, Sports in Schools, Westside School, and West Seattle Food Bank.

Finally, the third-annual WestSider of the Year award which honors an individual who has made a lasting impact on our community, goes to Pete Spalding, tireless advocate and civic leader for West Seattle. Pete has been an active member of the West Seattle Food Bank Board, serves on the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council, the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, and many other community groups.

Please join us in honoring these recipients at the WestSide Annual Awards Breakfast sponsored by Nucor Corporation at Salty's on Alki on April 18, 2012, 7:30-9am. The Awards Presentation is the premier event of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, a community gathering to recognize and celebrate excellence in business and the vibrant sprit of West Seattle. This year's special guest speaker is Matthew Gardner of Gardner Economics. Tickets are $50 each available at http://www.wschamber.com or call the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 206-932-5685.