ENCINITAS — North County residents will once again help choose their favorite local businesses and organizations when nominations open Feb. 23 for the fourth annual Best of North County.
Last year’s contest generated more than 160,000 votes and produced more than 650 winners across 260 categories, with participation spanning Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar.
The Best of North County, presented for the second consecutive year by North County Injury Lawyers and produced by The Coast News, invites readers to nominate favorites in 10 topic areas: Eat & Drink, Education, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, Law, Motors, Real Estate, Services, Shopping and Things to Do.
“Our readers decide who belongs on the ballot,” said Chris Kydd, publisher of The Coast News. “It reflects the places people actually recommend to friends and neighbors, not just who advertises the most.”
Randy Walton of North County Injury Lawyers said the contest highlights the connection between local businesses and community identity.
“North County is a special place because of its small businesses,” Walton said. “This gives businesses of all sizes, especially local shops and services, a chance to be seen and appreciated. A strong small business community makes a stronger North County.”
Each category awards gold, silver and bronze recognition based on community voting.
Sue Otto, advertising manager for The Coast News, said many businesses continue to promote their recognition long after the contest ends.
“We see winners using the badges across their marketing year-round,” Otto said. “For many, it carries more weight than traditional advertising because it represents third-party validation from the community.”
The nomination phase opens at noon on Monday, Feb. 23, and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Organizers note that a single nomination qualifies a business for inclusion on the ballot, and submitting nominations typically takes less than a minute.
Voting will run from March 23 through April 10, during which participants may cast one vote per day in each subcategory.
All nominations and voting take place online at votenorthcounty.com. The contest is administered independently by Oregon-based NERUS Strategies, LLC, which manages similar community recognition programs across the United States and Canada.
Participation is free and allows residents to highlight the businesses, services and professionals that shape daily life across North County.
Organizers are also planning a public celebration for this year’s winners and are exploring potential North County venues to host a large community gathering.
Information, key dates and promotional materials are available at ShopBestofNorthCounty.com.
About The Coast News
Locally owned since 1987, The Coast News provides community reporting and storytelling throughout North County San Diego. The Best of North County program allows readers to recognize the businesses and organizations that contribute to neighborhood life across the region.
