Oakland County’s ‘Local Gems’ winners announced

Garo Danayan realized Wednesday what it is wish to spend an additional thousand {dollars} on Christmas.

“It is already spent,” he joked. The Huntington Woods resident gained the grand prize, a $1,000 test, by getting into Oakland County’s annual Native Gems competitors. For the third yr, the county’s financial improvement division invited folks to take selfies at native companies and share the pictures with the county. to participate in a random drawing for a cash prizeS. Genisys Credit score Union offered the cash.

Greater than 1,000 folks submitted contest entries from among the county’s estimated 35,000 small companies.

Danayan took his selfie at a Ferndale reward store, The Rocket, the place the Native Gem winners have been introduced Wednesday.

The Rocket’s proprietor, Eli Morrissey, mentioned he was grateful for folks spending domestically and supporting his retailer for 12 years.

“We have to save our brick-and-mortar companies,” Morrissey mentioned. “They’re the character of our communities… I actually respect the help.”

Bret Rasegan of Rochester Hills gained $500 for his selfie at McCauley Chiropractic in Rochester and Julie Decker of Oak Park gained $250 for her selfie at The Classic Farmhouse in Holly.

County Govt Dave Coulter mentioned he was very pleased with small companies for all they do to help the neighborhood.”

Small companies, he mentioned, “give again to the neighborhood in a manner that Amazon may by no means present.”