Greater Spokane Incorporated announced the winners of the 26th Annual AGORA Awards this morning at The Davenport Hotel. The AGORA Awards recognize business excellence in the greater Spokane region.

Below are the finalists and winners in each category:

Inland Northwest Community Foundation

Spokane Lilac Festival Association

Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery

The Spokane Lilac Festival Association recognizes, celebrates and honors members of the military. Its 52 directors and past presidents, and 400 volunteers produce its events. The economic impact of the Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, put on by the Spokane Lilac Festival Association, has a big impact on tourism in Spokane.

Second Harvest Food Bank

The Salvation Army of Spokane

Volunteers of America

Second Harvest Food Bank has been the Inland Northwest's leading hunger-relief organization for the past 40 years. During its last fiscal year, Second Harvest distributed 19.7 million pounds of food to the hungry throughout the Inland Northwest. Second Harvest uses the innovative Mobile Foodbank, a refrigerated truck that delivers food to urban and rural communities.

Clark's Tire & Automotive

Craftsmen Construction, Inc.

Desautel Hege Communications

Desautel Hege Communications is a public relations and marketing firm that uses a true team approach to conducting business. The company has a passion for success and strong leadership. Desautel Hege is heavily involved in the community, and often grants in-kind services to various organizations.

GeoEngineers, Inc.

Horizon Hospice

Travel Leaders

Youthful Horizons Therapy

Horizon Hospice is a family-owned business that provides in-home hospice care to seriously ill adults. The team at Horizon Hospice demonstrates compassionate care to both its patients and employees. The company is accountable and continually strives to raise the bar of success.

Graham Construction & Management

Northwest Farm Credit Services

Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML)

Spokane Industries

Spokane Industries, Inc. services the mining, aggregate processing and industrial markets with steel and iron castings. Its customers include industries such as aerospace, wine and beverage, agriculture, biofuel and the military. The company continues to design new products to remain ahead of its competition while encouraging its managers to seek out new and inventive designs.

All finalists were eligible to receive the Entrepreneurial Spirit and Community Service Awards. The winners are:

The Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery provides emergency care to children up until the age of six when there is a risk of abuse or neglect. The staff and executive director has a passion and love for what they do. Providing an environment of unconditional love for children that need it has helped the organization become a safe place for more than 63,000 children.

Northwest Farm Credit Services provides more than $10 billion in credit-related services and crop insurance to farmers, ranchers, fishermen, timber producers, agribusiness and rural home owners through 47 branches in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. In the past three years, the company has awarded $250,000 in community grants.

Our sponsors for the 26th Annual AGORA Awards were:

Title Sponsor: Bank of America

Co-sponsors: MOJO Reprographics and The Journal of Business

Category Sponsors: AAA Washington; Asuris Northwest Health; Kalispel Tribe and Northern Quest Resort & Casino; Magnuson Hotels; People to People Ambassador Programs; Telect, Inc.

Meet & Greet Sponsor: Southwest Airlines, Co.

In ancient Athens, the AGORA was the center of all business activity, the market place, hence the program name. This program recognizes those businesses in our community and region that exemplify leadership to support a strong economy and quality of life. All finalists were interviewed by an independent team of volunteer judges. All finalists were also eligible to be selected as the AGORA Award winner in the Community Service and Entrepreneurial Spirit award categories.