It’s time for the public to nominate its favorite community-centric corporations for Washington’s highest civics award.

Secretary of State Sam Reed has announced that his office has started accepting nominations for a 2012 Corporations for Communities Award. The deadline for the nomination period is August 31.

Reed started the Corporations for Communities program in 2009 as a way to recognize exceptional Washington businesses that demonstrate a commitment to giving in order to improve local or regional social and environmental conditions. The award program is run by the Corporations and Charities Division, which is part of the Office of Secretary of State.

“We are fortunate to have many companies in our state that make it a priority to give back to their community. This is a chance for the public to help some of them receive well-earned recognition,” Reed said. “The purpose of this award is for our office to honor corporations that are going the extra mile to help their community. Encouraging businesses that are giving something back is important, especially given the difficulties that Washingtonians are facing every day in this economy.”

Reed will choose one large and one small corporation from among the public nominations.  His picks will receive a National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion, the highest civics honor that the state awards.

Anyone is able to nominate businesses for the Corporations for Communities Award. Any sized for-profit corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), or Limited Partnership is eligible for the award. Nominees need to be registered with the Office of the Secretary of State and must be in compliance with state and federal laws.

Nomination forms can be found on the Secretary of State’s website at http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/corpsforcommunities/ .

Winners for the 2012 Awards cycle will be announced in September.

Last fall, Sterling Savings Bank in Spokane and Korsmo Construction in Tacoma were selected from a statewide pool of nominees as Corporations for Communities 2011 Fall Award recipients.

For more information about the Corporations for Communities program, contact program coordinator Patrick Reed at (360) 725-0358 or patrick.reed@sos.wa.gov .