Local Gems Sweepstakes Generates More Than 1,000 Entries, Spotlighting Hundreds of Oakland County Small Businesses

• More than 1,000 residents submitted Local Gems nominations representing 675-plus small businesses across 46 Oakland County communities.
• Genisys Credit Union sponsored the prize money and provided promotional materials for Main Street Oakland County communities.
• Lily's Seafood in Royal Oak received the most Local Gems entries.

Pontiac, Mich. - Oakland County's Local Gems Sweepstakes shined a bright light on small businesses this holiday season, generating more than 1,000 entries from Southeast Michigan residents eager to share their favorite neighborhood shops, restaurants and services.

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter presented checks to the winners of the random drawings, alongside Theresa Doan, director of social responsibility for Genisys Credit Union, which provided prize funding, Shop Small shopper bags and promotional banners for Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) communities.

The sweepstakes winners are:

• 1^st Place ($1,000): Garo Danayan of Huntington Woods, for his entry highlighting The Rocket in Ferndale
• 2^nd Place($500): Bret Rasegan of Rochester Hills, for his entry showcasing McCauley Chiropractor in Rochester
• 3^rd Place($250): Julie Decker of Oak Park, for her entry featuring The Vintage Farmhouse in Holly

"Small businesses are the heart of our local economy, and the incredible response to this year's Local Gems Sweepstakes shows just how much residents value them," Coulter said. "I'm grateful to Genisys Credit Union and all our partners for helping us spotlight the businesses that make Oakland County a vibrant destination."

More than 675 small businesses in 46 Oakland County communities received at least one nomination Local Gems submissions, with sweepstakes entrants coming from 92 different Michigan communities.

Lily's Seafood in Royal Oak received the most entries overall, followed by Vibrant Vizion of Oak Park, All About Women's Health Boutique of Farmington, Havana Tacos & Burgers of Southfield and Lake Orion Bike & Adventure, rounding out the top five.

"Local Gems showcases the power of community support. When you shop locally, you are funding the dreams of your neighbors," said Jackie Buchanan, president and CEO of Genisys Credit Union. "Congratulations to the winners and all the vibrant businesses that make our communities special places to live, work and visit."

Photos and stories submitted through the sweepstakes are featured on the @AdvantageOak Facebook page, the #LocalGemOC hashtag and the county's OakGov.com/ShopSmall webpage to provide added visibility for participating small businesses.

The Shop Small & Local Campaign is organized by Main Street Oakland County within the Oakland County Department of Economic Development and is supported by Oakland Thrive and local chambers of commerce.

For more information about Oakland County's Shop Small & Local campaign or this year's Local Gems sweepstakes, visit OakGov.com/ShopSmall.