Biz Awards

Tech firm, shirt company get small-business awards

The Pima County Small Business Commission said Wednesday it will give its 2015 Small Business of the Year Awards to a Tucson tech-development company and a home-based custom shirt business:

• Aztera LLC was named Urban Small Business of the Year. The five-year-old technology development firm has 20 employees. The company’s team of mechanical, electrical and software engineers work with companies to develop new technologies, build functional prototypes and create test equipment. The company is led by CEO Manny Teran.

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• Bling by Design, a home-based business in Vail, was named Rural Small Business of the Year, for companies outside of Tucson city limits. The three-year-old company offers full-service custom shirt making company including screen printing and embroidery, and specializes in women’s wear, especially uniforms for cheerleading, dance and gymnastics teams. The company is owned by Sabrina Jarkowski.

This is the sixth year the commission has presented the awards, which were split into two categories in 2013. To be eligible, a business must have fewer than 100 employees and the owner or manager must live in Pima County.

The awards will be presented to the two companies at a Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting in December. Each company also receives $500.