The South Shore Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce is calling on the public for 2016 Blue Ribbon Awards nominations.

The Blue Ribbon Awards recognize businesses and employees in seven categories: Geotourism, Tourism, Experience, Entrepreneur, Customer Service (Business), Customer Service (Public Agency) and Wendall Award — for a green business or program.

“Is the product or service unique? Did creative ingenuity overcome challenges? Has the business achieved sustainable success in the community?”— these are the type of questions to ask yourself when considering nominating a business or employee, according to the Tahoe Chamber.

Nominations can be submitted online through the Tahoe Chamber’s website, http://www.tahoechamber.org, until noon on Oct. 17.

“The concept was started as a result of some of the negative views that are out there in regards to the Tahoe Business community. We wanted a way to show the community that there are great businesses here that provide exceptional service and experiences,” said Emily Abernathy, events director for the Tahoe Chamber.

Nominees will be announced in late October, and finalists will then be evaluated by a Blue Ribbon Awards Committee of Tahoe Chamber board members and staff, past winners, and community members.

The winners will be announced at the 9th annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony and dinner, held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Nov. 10.

“Winners receive a glass award as well as one year of chamber membership, a blue ribbon award banner for their business, a produced vignette about their business and why they won the award along with opportunities to be featured in chamber publications regarding why they were selected,” said Abernathy.

The individual who wins the customer service award gets treated to a “perfect Tahoe day,” added Abernathy, which could include activities like golf, a massage or a fishing trip.