Millbrook chamber honors local businesses at annual awards luncheon

A bank on Alabama Highway 14, a mobile detailing shop, a marketing firm and a pest-control company were the kinds of businesses the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce put in the spotlight Thursday, June 4, at its annual Business Awards Luncheon.

Held at The Fieldhouse at 17 Springs, the event turned into a practical look at the businesses shaping daily life in Millbrook, from services people use at home and on the road to the employers and storefronts helping drive traffic into the city’s growing commercial corridor. Chamber leaders used the luncheon to recognize businesses across size categories, with Brandify Creative Marketing named Emerging Small Business of the Year, The Worx Auto Detail selected as Small Business of the Year, Pest Pro Services honored as Medium Business of the Year and First Community Bank of Central Alabama recognized as Large Business of the Year.

The setting matched the message. The Fieldhouse is part of the larger 17 Springs complex, an 86,000-square-foot facility with a 42,000-square-foot event space, three conference rooms, concessions and locker rooms. It can be configured for four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts or 12 wrestling mats, giving Millbrook a venue built for more than ceremonies and luncheons. The broader 17 Springs project grew out of overlapping conversations in 2017 involving the City of Millbrook, Grandview Family YMCA, the Elmore County Board of Education, the Elmore County Economic Development Authority and the Elmore County Commission. Even the name carries local history, tracing back to a long-ago art festival hosted on YMCA property in Millbrook.

The businesses honored Thursday reflect the kinds of firms residents encounter most often. Brandify Creative Marketing says it provides creative, tech and marketing services, including branding and digital marketing. The Worx Auto Detail describes itself as a Millbrook-based detailing company offering paint correction, ceramic coating, marine detailing and mobile detailing. First Community Bank of Central Alabama said its Millbrook branch on Alabama Highway 14 has served the community for more than 24 years, a reminder that some of the city’s most recognizable business names are also among its longest-standing.

Judge Ben Baxley also recognized Kimberly Hubbard as the 2026 Ambassador of the Year, underscoring the chamber’s reliance on members who help connect people as well as businesses. Outgoing Board Chair Cadi Mills was recognized, and the 2026-2027 Board of Directors was inducted.

Guest speaker Art Faulkner, chairman of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority, spoke about continued growth across the area and the need for places where families and young people can gather and spend time locally. ECEDA says its mission is to improve economic growth in Elmore County by encouraging new and expanded business, industry, commerce, residential development and tourism while also supporting quality of life.

The chamber’s recognition comes after its 2025 awards luncheon drew more than 200 business leaders, elected officials and community members and highlighted school-linked efforts such as the Child Nutrition Program and Junior Ambassador Program. For Millbrook, the annual luncheon has become a barometer of where the city’s economic momentum is building and which businesses are becoming part of everyday life.