Kamloops Chamber of Commerce's business awards bring instant credibility and prestige, said past winners during a launch Wednesday for the 2012 event.

Nominations opened this week for the Chamber's TD Canada Trust Business Excellence Awards.

Organizers are raising the profile of the awards by showcasing past winners and the success winning has brought them.

In the case of Lee's Music, where owner Mike Miltimore won the businessperson of the year, the award was followed by two major contracts.

"I'd like to think the awards played a part in that," he said.

"They (potential customers) do a Google search of your name and it brings instant credibility."

Nominations can be made at the Chamber office or any of TD's five branches in the city. The deadline for nominations is June 30. Information is available at the Chamber's website.

Chamber executive director Deb McClelland said nominations in the 16 categories often come from customers but there are other avenues.

"We're seeing other businesses nominate," she said in an interview. "Fellow business people do it because they're experiencing something good."

For Visual Statement Inc., a past winner in the technology innovator category, the award meant recognition in Kamloops.

The company's marketing and project manager, Geralyn Beaton, said the firm that specializes in accident reconstruction and crash reporting is specialized and its market is outside the region.

But the visibility it created for the firm — which is constantly seeking talent — resulted in resumes coming through the door.

"We really noticed a huge amount of exposure in the community," she said. We don't have that because we don't do a lot of local business."