This is the best time of year! Even normally grumpy people and negative types are just a little bit more cheerful.

This is a great time to share your Christmas cheer with folks you might normally take for granted. Many of our local businesses work all through the year to make your shopping and business experiences pleasures by creating and maintaining attractive locations. Join us this month in recognizing some of these outstanding local businesses by nominating them for our quarterly Win-dex Awards, which recognize attractive local businesses.

Nominations for this quarter’s awards, which are sponsored by the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, are being accepted through Dec. 31. These businesses are run by people who have figured out that looking good makes a statement about the kind of business that they have. It is good business to have an attractive property. It brings in more customers and also helps to create a positive work environment for those who are employed there. And attractive, successful businesses benefit all of us by attracting more new businesses to our community. They make our whole community look good! More successful businesses mean more good jobs and a healthier economy for our community.

As chamber CEO Leah Poole emphasized, “The Win-dex Awards help us recognize those businesses in our community who do such an exceptional job by keeping their businesses clean and beautiful.”

Here are the main points to consider when nominating a business:

• Is the exterior clean and litter-free?

• Is the landscape well-maintained?

• Is the building exterior attractive and not in need of repair?

• Is the frontage property mowed and litter-free? Is the sidewalk and parking area clean and maintained? Is this area free of cigarette butts?

• Are attractive plantings decorating the exterior?

• Have they recently upgraded or renovated? This could be a simple paint job to spruce things up, a full-scale renovation or new building.

• Is the entry way inviting?

• Do the business’ efforts help improve an area in our community that would benefit from enhancement?

• Does the business work to maintain the roadway and the right-of-way where it’s located by keeping it attractive and litter-free?

• What other reasons make this business a standout?

Nomination forms are available at the Keep Liberty Beautiful office by calling 880-4888 or at the chamber office at 368-4445. You also can email klcb@libertycountyga.com for a form. The completed form can be emailed back or mailed to P.O. Box 829, Hinesville, GA 31310.

Remember, the reason for nominating a business is a crucial part of the judging of the awards, so make sure that you fully explain why this business is deserving of this recognition. Award winners will be announced in mid-January.

This holiday, share some cheer with local businesses that we are thankful for.