Best of Southern Utah contest returns for 2022 with title sponsor Dixie Power; nominations open

Composite image by St. George News

ST. GEORGE — The greater St. George area is both an amazing place for travelers and the perfect community to live and work. Breathtaking scenery sets the stage for unique shopping locales, premier restaurants and a wide variety of businesses all vying to position themselves as local favorites. But only an elite few can earn the right to call themselves the very best. 

Shoppers browse Green Gate Village in historic downtown St. George, Utah, Jan. 28, 2017 | File photo courtesy of Vyking Events, St. George News

Nominations for this year’s Best of Southern Utah contest, presented by St. George News, Canyon Media and 2022 title sponsor Dixie Power, are now underway and will continue online through Feb. 16. Whether you’re an owner, an employee, a customer or a fan, this is your opportunity to let your voice be heard. Click here to submit a nomination. 

Ben Lindquist, general manager of Canyon Media, said that the contest places a well-deserved spotlight on outstanding local business owners, operators and employees. From pizza parlors and diners to automotive shops and building contractors, small businesses are an invaluable thread in the fabric of Southern Utah and need the community’s support.  

“We felt like this was our opportunity as operators of the two biggest media companies in Southern Utah to really showcase the small business community and celebrate everything they’ve overcome,” Lindquist said.

The pandemic continues to present extraordinary challenges for many small businesses, and Lindquist said the Best of Southern Utah contest is a celebration of the companies that have endured, innovated and found new and better ways to serve their customers.

Canyon Media has again joined forces with Elite Insights to bring legitimacy and transparency to the voting process and contest rules and execution. Voting will begin Feb. 23 and run through March 9.

Best of Southern Utah 2021 magazine, St. George, Utah, June 4, 2021 | File photo by James Kreitzer, St. George News

Shane Brinkerhoff, director of news operations for St. George News, said he’s extremely proud of the growth the contest has seen since it started in 2019. Partnering with Dixie Power as this year’s title sponsor brings even more visibility to the event. 

“Every year, we try to make enhancements and continue to make it even better,” Brinkerhoff said. “We’re really excited about this year.”

Gold and silver award winners will be crowned in 10 consolidated categories: Activities and Entertainment, Business and Services, Food and Beverage, General Services, Home and Garden, Lifestyle and Beauty, Medical, Schools, Shopping and Vehicles and Services.

Winners will be published online and in the Best of Southern Utah magazine on June 7. Adding to the prestige, they also receive a prize package featuring a gold or silver medal along with a window cling and a certificate celebrating their accomplishment. 

Along with showcasing the winners, the magazine is designed to serve as a guidebook for both locals and visitors seeking the very best that the community has to offer. 15,000 copies will be distributed across the greater St. George area. 

A sign encouraging customers to help small restaurants by ordering out hangs in a storefront downtown, St. George, Utah, Dec. 21, 2020 | File photo by David Dudley, St. George News.

Canyon Media will manage production and distribution of the magazine again this year. Lindquist highlighted the time and energy that his design and writing teams have contributed to building a first-class publication. 

“The Best of Southern Utah magazine has become the crown jewel in publishing here,” he said. “The demand has been so high that we probably could print 40,000-50,000 magazines based on how many we go through and how many people reach out to us for more.”

Best of Southern Utah continues to grow in popularity and participation. In 2021, the community submitted more than 800 nominations and cast nearly 600,000 votes to determine the winners. 

“We are thrilled for the fourth year of what has become a signature event for the Southern Utah business community,” Lindquist said. “We have been blown away by the response in the first three years and anticipate record-breaking voting and business participation.”

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