The City of Washington and surrounding areas have some impressive businesses and business owners, many of who are from right here in Beaufort County.

That fact was apparent at Thursday night’s Chamber Awards, hosted by the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.

Businesses from all over Washington gathered for a banquet dinner at the Washington Yacht & Country Club — businesses ranging from restaurant owners to bank employees, from realtors to bankers. Among the awards are: Business of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Community Leader of the Year and Young Professional of the Year.

The Chamber of Commerce has honored its members for 113 years now, and Thursday’s Chamber Awards carried on that legacy. Business employees were able to take a breath from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reflect on a successful year.

These businesses offer a strong base for the community and foster a healthy economy. They are an integral part of Beaufort County.

Also, the county’s businesses are set apart from others for a few reasons: integrity, kindness and a one-on-one experience for customers. The places with this type of atmosphere are few and far between, but Washington is lucky to be one of those very places.

When one walks into a store or restaurant in Washington, it’s a different experience. One is guaranteed to be welcomed by a smiling face, and more likely than not, it’s a neighbor or friend. Honesty and quality are standards of business to be expected.

And with these transactions comes a more personal touch, with a sense of caring and interactions on a first-name basis.

This is the kind of environment that the Chamber of Commerce fosters, and more specifically, what the Chamber Awards recognize. It may seem as if it’s just a shiny plaque or just a quick round of applause, but these small things help to keep the foundation of Washington’s businesses strong.

Washington is known as the original Washington for many reasons, but with the businesses here, it’s grown to be more original — and special — than ever before.