FirstBank, one of the nation’s largest privately held banks with a focus on “banking for good,” recently announced the winners of its Good Business Contest. Three of the ten winners are based in Arizona: Gilbert’s Envision Painting and Phoenix-based businesses Ground Control and Social Spin, Inc. Seven businesses in Colorado were also selected as winners (Imprint Events Group, Landwise and TJC Real Estate and Management Services in Denver; Mann Method Physical Therapy and Fitness in Arvada; J&K Roofing in Golden, Building One Consulting in Lakewood and VERT Sites in Silverthorne).

The Good Business Contest was designed to give back to companies that have continued to make a positive impact on their customers, communities, and employees, despite challenges caused by COVID-19. An internal judging panel selected ten winners to receive $5,000 in prize money and $1,000 to be donated to a nonprofit of their choosing.

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“At FirstBank, Good Business means doing right by customers, communities, and employees even when faced with immense challenges,” said Joel Johnson, East Valley Market President for FirstBank. “Envision Painting, Ground Control, and Social Spin each went above and beyond to help their respective communities during the pandemic, but we also applaud all of the business contest entrants for the inspiring work they have done.”

Envision Painting used its resources to disinfect nonprofits and other local buildings at no cost. The company offered its painting services to an essential worker and ended up painting the home of a deserving nurse for free. This inspired Envision staff to give two additional paint jobs to folks in need, with plans to make this a recurring gesture for locals in the future.

Ground Control is a craft eatery in Litchfield Park that provided free meals to hospital workers, firefighters, and other first responders throughout the pandemic. Recognizing that the impact of the pandemic stretched beyond hospital walls, they offered free meals to kids, and set up a giveaway wherein customers could nominate an educator to receive a meal on the house. The chosen teacher’s meal was personally delivered by the company owner, Ian Harwell.

Ground Control took care of its own, keeping all its staff on payroll and even throwing a graduation ceremony for one of its student employees.

Social Spin, Inc. is a purpose-driven laundromat that offers free access to a basic yet vital need, clean clothes. In addition, Social Spin partners with nonprofits to help individuals find stable employment. During the pandemic, the company expanded its mission and provided free food as well. The company hired food trucks and local caterers to offer free food and distribute meal kits during their weekly laundry events. This resulted in 475 free meals given out each week.

“Each of these companies has gone above and beyond to care for their people, and they share the FirstBank mission of inspiring a new way of doing business that benefits the greater good,” said Kevin Classen, President at FirstBank. “We feel privileged to play even a small part in helping support their continued efforts and look forward to seeing how the Good Business grant money expands their impact in the communities they serve.”

For more information about the Good Business Contest, visit efirstbank.com/GoodBusiness or efirstbank.com/BuenNegocio.