An Enumclaw company was among the winners when King County Executive Dow Constantine celebrated the importance and the accomplishments of small businesses by presenting the first annual King County Executive’s Small Business Awards in October.

Nearly 250 people attended the ceremony at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.

Honored as the Rural Small Business of the Year was Enumclaw’s Rockridge Orchards and Cidery. It is owned by Wade and Judy Bennett.

Nominations were made by local jurisdictions and business organizations from July through September and the 125 King County businesses that were nominated were narrowed down to three finalists in each category before the awards ceremony. Businesses had to have 50 employees or fewer and have been in business for at least three years to qualify for the seven award categories.