Three family-owned Selma businesses were finalists in the 2016 Small Business and Emerging Business of the Year Awards.

Fuller Building Supply, the Coffee Shoppe and Mark’s Mart were among 32 finalists across the state of Alabama to make the cut for the award.

The awards are given out by the partnership between the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama each year. The awards recognize the best small businesses in Alabama based on the number of employees for the work they do in the community and the way they do business.

Sheryl Smedley, executive director of the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, said having three businesses named finalists says a lot about Selma’s small business community.

“We didn’t bring home as I would say the gold, but we got lots of great recognition throughout the state to show that we are a viable small business community making a difference,” she said.

While the three Selma businesses didn’t take home first place, each of them were recognized and honored during the BCA/CCAA Partnership Annual Meeting/Luncheon in Birmingham last week.

Fuller Building Supply was a finalist in the Small Business of the Year Award in the 11 to 50 employees category.

Bruce Fuller, president of Fuller Building Supply, said it was an honor to be named a finalist.

“It was very rewarding,” Fuller said. “We’re very appreciative of all of our customers here in Selma and Dallas County and the surrounding areas. We’re very humbled and honored by the award.”

Fuller said to be named a finalist says a lot about the way the supply company does business.

“We’ve been here since 1970, so we try to do business the right way,” Fuller said. “We try to put the customers first and we work hard to earn our customers’ business.”

Mark’s Mart was a finalist for the Small Business of the Year Award in the one to ten employees category.

“It was an honor being selected as a Small Business of the Year finalist by the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama,” said Benjamin Rich with Mark’s Mart. “We have the Selma Chamber of Commerce and Sheryl Smedley to thank for help with the nomination.”

The Coffee Shoppe was a finalist for the Emerging Small Business of the Year Award.

“To be considered an emerging leader across the state of Alabama and to be a finalist was quite and honor and a privilege,” said Jacqueline Smith, owner of the shop. “I feel like we owe this award to Selma who has supported the Coffee Shoppe unwaveringly. We’ve just had an enormous amount of support.”

King’s Olive Oil in Gadsden won for the one to ten employees category, Good People Brewing Co. in Birmingham won the 11 to 50 employees category and Spicer’s Music in Auburn won the Emerging Small Business of the Year Award.