BBB ethics award deadline nears

The Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida is reminding businesses that there is one week to apply for the 2007 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

The Torch Award was created to recognize businesses and non-profit organizations that insist on exceptionally high standards of behavior in dealing with customers, vendors and employees.

Membership in the BBB is not required to enter, however applicants must be physically located within the Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida's service area.

The application deadline is Aug. 23. To download an application and full instructions on how to enter the 2007 Torch Awards, visit www.nwfl.bbb.org.

Award recipients will be announced at a series of luncheons to be held in October.

In addition to the awards ceremony for businesses, three high school students from each district will be named as BBB Student Ethics Scholarship winners and will receive $1,000 scholarships for their commitment to ethical behavior and personal integrity.