Looking to recognize industrial park tenants who beautify and maintain the visual appeal of their properties, CAN DO, Inc., presented several companies from its industrial parks with its second annual Curb Appeal Awards.

The awards were presented to companies in Humboldt, Humboldt North, McAdoo, and Valmont industrial parks on Wednesday during an industry mixer held at Residence Inn by Marriott in Humboldt Station.

“Many of the businesses in our parks have put a great deal of time and effort into maintaining and increasing the attractiveness of their buildings and landscapes. This awards program acknowledges their efforts and seeks to encourage other companies to further enhance their properties,” CAN DO President Kevin O’Donnell said.

CAN DO Secretary Lonnie Polli, co-chair of the Curb Appeal Awards Committee, said, “It’s an honor to have companies in our area that truly care about the everyday representation they are making to their employees and to the Greater Hazleton community. Their actions promote the betterment of the parks and the Hazleton area, and these companies can take pride in what they have accomplished.”

The Curb Appeal Award plaques were presented in two categories: companies with 1 to 75 employees in their local facility and companies with more than 75 employees.

Winners in the 1-to-75-employee category are: Bearings & Drives Unlimited, Humboldt Industrial Park; United States Cold Storage, Humboldt North; Johns Manville, Valmont Industrial Park; and High Mountain Hardware, Inc., McAdoo Industrial Park.

Winners in the more-than-75-employee category are: The Hershey Company, Humboldt Industrial Park; AutoZone, Inc., Humboldt North; and Fabri-Kal Corp., Valmont Industrial Park.

Fabri-Kal Corp. was declared the overall winner and received the top award in the program.

“The employees of Fabri-Kal have gone above and beyond to maintain the attractiveness of their property in Valmont Industrial Park. The company has been in Valmont for many years, and its employees have diligently performed landscaping, maintenance, and upkeep to keep Fabri-Kal looking fresh and neat. That’s why Fabri-Kal won the overall award this year,” said Curb Appeal Co-Chair Gary Danish.

The nominating period for the 2010 awards will begin in July, and committee members encouraged companies in CAN DO’s industrial parks to begin considering an entry now.

“The Curb Appeal Awards program was first announced in September 2008, and it was more competitive this year. We hope more companies participate in this program in the years to come,” Polli said.

The other members of the Curb Appeal committee are Charlie Burkhardt, chairman of the CAN DO Community Relations Committee, and Nancy Stasko, CAN DO, Inc.

Residence Inn by Marriott was the mixer sponsor. Award sponsors were: Arc Electric Construction Co., Hazleton Plumbing Heating and Supply, Nause Landscaping Inc., Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association, and Walko Landscaping and Nursery Inc.