Launched in 2015, the Eagle Choice Awards recognizes local businesses in the area through popular vote. This distinction is evidence that residents do take notice when they receive outstanding service and find superior products offered by local merchants.
Melissa Carter, advertising director for The Windham Eagle, said that the awards established a new record last year by receiving nearly 10,000 ballots cast across 85 different categories, and she expects that number to rise again in 2025.
Two awards are presented in each category, gold for first place and silver for second. At times, if votes are within 10, a tie is called and two businesses are awarded for one category.
The awards are presented at a gathering at Erik's Church, which is scheduled for Aug. 14, 2025. Each winner is given a decal and plaque to display at their business or on vehicles, etc. to recognize their accomplishment.
“Now in it’s 11th year, the Eagle Choice Award has become a well-known symbol of business trust and top-notch customer service,” Carter said. “It is an honor to be able to recognize the many companies that pour their heart and souls into their businesses each year. The competition is tough and even for those businesses that are not awarded with gold or silver, we hope that they appreciate every vote they get. The exposure of even being listed on the ballot is a win for branding and name recognition.”
According to Kelly Mank, owner and publisher of The Windham Eagle newspaper, the Eagle Choice Awards are a great way for the public to learn about a business they may not be familiar with and to discover the very best services, food and products that are available in the community.
“The Eagle Choice Awards give the community trusted options and a unique way to connect residents and visitors here with area businesses in meaningful ways,” Mank said. “Best of all, every vote comes from the readers and is based upon how they feel about local businesses.”
Carter said a few new categories have been added and some from previous years have been updated. For 2025, there are a total of 93 categories.
Businesses in the updated categories have been split to better represent business services. Those include Auto Detailing and Car Wash into two separate categories, Aesthetics/Med Spa has been split into Facial and Med Spa, and Trash Services has been split into Junk Removal and Trash Services/Dumpster Rentals.
New categories this year are Burger, Dog Training, Interior Design/Home Staging, and Remediation.
While the newspaper does its best to keep current on adding new businesses and deleting those that are closed and including everyone, they welcome feedback to help improve ballot choices for the upcoming years by sending an email to: awards@thewindhameagle.com. Voters may also use the write-in option to nominate a business that is not already listed.
Eagle Choice Award voters must cast ballots in at least 10 categories or more and must also include their email address when uploading or turning in a ballot for it to be valid to ensure that only one vote is cast by an individual. Email addresses collected during the Eagle Choice Awards competition are not sold or distributed to a third party.
A paper ballot is available in The Windham Eagle newspaper’s print edition this week (see facing page 10). You can either mail in the physical ballot or take a picture and upload via email to: awards@thewindhameagle.com. The paper ballot must be received by us no later than Friday, July 18 to be counted.
The easiest and most popular way to vote is online at www.thewindhameagle.com/awards. <
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