Rubicon Global, the worldwide leader in sustainable, cloud-based waste and recycling solutions, announced the finalists for the “Best Small Business in America” contest. For the competition, Rubicon asked small businesses to enter and describe how they are “crossing the Rubicon” of success in their communities as well as what makes the business stand out. Businesses were encouraged to list the challenges they’ve faced and overcome to make the business successful as well as socially and environmentally conscious. The winner will receive $10,000 to help support the growth of their business.
 
“We hoped to find brick-and-mortar small businesses that had a unique and innovative story to tell that detailed their continuous focus on overcoming individual challenges to better their communities. We found exactly that,” said David Rachelson, Vice President of Sustainability, Rubicon Global.
 
The 10 finalists are Chopwood Mercantile, from Crested Butte, CO; Grubbly Farms, from Atlanta, GA; Hobby Prodigy, from Pittsburgh, PA; Legend Acres, from Stewart, TN; NoBull Burger, from Charlottesville, VA.; Pumphouse Creamery, from Minneapolis, MN; Re.dwell, from Grand Rapids, MI; RUIN Skateshop, from Dunwoody, GA; Sugar Beet Food Co-Op, from Chicago, IL; and W.S. Badger, from Gilsum, NH.
 
“These businesses exemplify the qualities we were looking to celebrate—they are B Corporations, creative and committed composters, out-of-the-box thinkers, farm-to-table innovators, recyclers and upcyclers---all of whom are focused on sustainability, environmental responsibility and community leadership,” said Rachelson.