Information on National and Regional Best Places to Work contests.
In this article:
Employee Requirements
For every regional contest in this list, unless otherwise specified, the employee requirements are:
- Full and Part-Time
- Permanent
- Have been working for a minimum of 30 days
- If Remote: works close to or reports to the contest city
- Can only participate in one regional program
National Contests
Inc. Magazine
Program & Partner: Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces via Inc. Magazine
Contest Area: The US
Minimum Employee Count: 5 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Fee: $295- $495, nomination fee goes up as the deadline approaches
Employee Requirements: Full and Part-Time, Permanent, working for 30 days
Unlike other contests in this list, the client must complete the application.
National & Industry-Specific Contests
Staffing
- Main Staffing Award: Full/Part-Time, permanent, internal, working for 30 days
- Option TEMP Award: All recent temporary/contract workers, i.e. those placed on assignment after June 30 must be invited
Sports (SBJ)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Sports via Sports Business Journal
Contest Area: North America
Minimum Employee Count: 7 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Employee Requirements: Full and Part-Time, Permanent, working for 30 days
Regional Contests
Albany, New York (ALB)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in the Capital Region via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton, Warren, Washington and Schoharie counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Alburquerque, New Mexico (ALQ)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in New Mexico via American City Business Journal
Contest Area: State of New Mexico
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Atlanta via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties; You may also include Barrow, Carroll, Coweta, Forsyth, Newton, Paulding, and Spalding counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Austin, Texas (AUS)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Central Texas via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, and Caldwell counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Baltimore, Maryland (BAL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Baltimore via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, and Carroll counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Birmingham, Alabama (BIR)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Birmingham via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Walker, Bibb, Chilton, and Blount counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Boston, Massachusetts (BOS)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Boston via American City Business Journal
Contest Area: State of Massachusetts
Minimum Employee Count: 20 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Buffalo, New York (BUF)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Western New York via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Orleans counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Charlotte, North Carolina (CHA)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Charlotte via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- North Carolina: Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties
- South Carolina: Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster, and York counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Cincinnati, Ohio (CIN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Cincinnati via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Ohio: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren counties
- Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton counties
- Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Columbus, Ohio (COL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Central Ohio via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Franklin, Delaware, Union, Madison, Pickaway, Fairfield, Licking, Morrow, Perry, and Hocking counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Dallas, Texas (DAL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Dallas via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Dallas, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, Rockwall, Ellis, and Kaufman counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Dayton, Ohio (DAY)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Dayton via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Montgomery, Miami, Clark, Darke, Greene, Preble, Shelby, Butler, and Warren counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Denver, Colorado (DEN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Denver via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Greensboro, North Carolina (GRN)
Program & Partner: Triad's Best Places to Work via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Oahu, Hawaii (HAW)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Hawaii via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Oahu and all neighboring islands
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Houston, Texas (HOU)
Program & Partner: Houston, Texas via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Walle counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Huntsville, Alabama (HUN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Huntsville/Madison County via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Huntsville and Madison counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Jacksonville via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Baker, Flagler, and Putnam counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Kansas City, Missouri (KC)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Kansas City via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Missouri: Ray, Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties
- Kansas: Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Lincoln, Nebraska (LIN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Lincoln via Woods Aitken
Contest Area: Lancaster County
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Louisville, Kentucky (LOU)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Louisville via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Kentucky: Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, and Shelby counties
- Indiana: Floyd, Clark, and Harrison counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Madison, Wisconsin (MAD)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Madison via Madison Magazine
Contest Areas: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock, and Sauk counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (MIL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Milwaukee via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Minneapolis, Minnesota (MIN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Minnesota via American City Business Journal
Contest Area: Minnesota
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Nashville, Tennessee (NAS)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Nashville via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Omaha, Nebraska (OMA)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Omaha via Baird Holm
Contest Areas:
- Nebraska: Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington counties
- Iowa: Harrison, Mills, and Pottawattamie counties
Minimum Employee Count: 25 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Orlando, Florida (ORL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Orlando via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, and Lake counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHI)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Philadelphia via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties
- New Jersey: Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Phoenix, Arizona (PHO)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in the Valley via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Maricopa and Pinal counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania (PIT)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Western Pennsylvania via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, Allegheny, Lawrence, and Armstrong counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Portland, Oregon (POR)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Oregon and Southwest Washington via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- State of Oregon
- Washington: Clark County
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Puget Sound Region, Washington (PUG)
Program & Partner: Washington's Best Workplaces via American City Business Journal
Contest Area: Washington
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Raleigh, North Carolina (RAL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in the Triangle via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, and Warren counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Reno, Nevada (RNO)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Reno/Tahoe via Northern Nevada Human Resources Association
Contest Areas: Reno, Tahoe, Carson City, and Sparks metro region
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Sacramento, California (SAC)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Sacramento via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
San Francisco, California (SAN)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in the Bay Area via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Benito, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Marin counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
San Antonio, Texas (SANA)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in San Antonio via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Bexar, Comal, Gonzalez, Kendall, Guadalupe, Wilson, Medina, Atascosa, and Bandera counties
Minimum Employee Count: 25 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Miami & South Florida, Florida (SFL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in South Florida via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
St. Louis, Missouri (STL)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in St. Louis via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Missouri: St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, and Franklin counties
- Illinois: Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Tampa, Florida (TAM)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Tampa Bay via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Polk, and Hernando counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Washington D.C., District of Columbia (WAS)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Washington, D.C. via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas:
- Virginia: Washington D.C., City of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties
- Maryland: Montgomery and Prince George counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners
Wichita, Kansas (WIC)
Program & Partner: Best Places to Work in Wichita via American City Business Journal
Contest Areas: Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, Sumner, and Kingman counties
Minimum Employee Count: 10 eligible employees, cannot include partners or owners