The call is out for nominations for Lawrence Township’s Business Economic Growth awards for 2026.
The Lawrence Township Economic Growth Committee — formerly known as the Growth and Redevelopment Committee — sponsors the awards to honor those members of the community who have made significant or unusual contributions to the economic growth of the township, officials said.
The deadline to submit nominations is Sept. 6, and must include a few sentences describing the reason for the nomination. The nominating forms are available at https://tinyurl.com/LawrenceAwards2026.
The awards will be presented at Lawrence Township’s annual Community Day celebration, which is set for Oc.t 3.
The awards include the Mayor’s Impact Award, the New Large and Small Business Award, the Lawrence Legacy Award and the Ralph Copleman Environmental Award.
The Mayor’s Impact Award recognizes a business, civic group, public official or program that deserves special recognition for its efforts on behalf of the community.
Previous winners include the Every Child Valued program at the Eggerts Crossing Village affordable housing development. The program grew out of an after-school program that aimed to close the achievement gap between white students and Black students.
The New Large and Small Business Award recognizes a successful new business – either a start-up or a relocation of an existing business – that was established in Lawrence Township between January 2025 and September 2026.
Bountiful Gardens, which is the latest business to occupy the greenhouse and floral shop at 1365 Lawrenceville Road, is a previous winner.
The Lawrence Legacy Award is given to a business or civic organization that has been part of the Lawrence community for many years and has made a positive impact on the community.
The previous winner was the Trenton Farmers Market on Spruce Street, which opened its doors in 1948. It had its beginnings in the early 1900s, when farmers would travel to sell their produce near the “Trenton Makes, the World Takes” bridge over the Delaware River.
The Ralph Copleman Environmental Award is named after the Sustainable Lawrence co-founder, who died in 2011. The award recognizes a businsess, organization, community group or individual for environmentally sustainable practices, such as minimizing the impact on natural resources.
Cherry Grove Organic Farm on Carter Road is a previous award winner. It was created in 2002 when three farmers leased 19 acres of land from the Hamill family.
For more information, contact Business Economic Growth Committee chair Melissa Clark at lawrencetwpgrowthcommittee@gmail.com.
