DaniMer Scientific LLC was named Thursday the Small Business of the Year at the annual Chamber of Commerce Membership Mingle.

The manufacturing business located in a relatively new building on Colquitt Highway was nominated by Dick Ivey, a locate investor in the company.

Daniel Carraway, the CEO and founder of DaniMer, complimented his 20-member staff and the team they have formed in making the company a success.

“We have a great team,” Carraway said during the gathering at the Chamber’s back deck.

The other businesses nominated were Bainbridge Media LLC, Southern Triad Construction, The Tanning Company and Tristate Office Products.

Ryan Phillips, the chairman of the Chamber’s Small Business Committee, said DaniMer was chosen in a close points race, and that only 26 points separated the top three nominees.

Points are awarded based such criteria as stability and growth, continuously articulated core values, goals and mission of the business, project a positive image, contribution to the community, be an active chamber member, employ fewer than 50 full-time employees and be a for-profit business.

In the nomination letter, Ivey said DaniMer is recognized as a global leader in biopolymer technology. It is the only biopolymer manufacturer in the state of Georgia, and just one of a few in North America. The company produces renewable plastics that are either biodegradable or compostable and are not derived from petroleum. The letter stated that DaniMer’s customers are a mix of regional and global brand owners who use DaniMer products in more than 20 countries.

“DaniMer directly adds over $5 million annually into the local economy through payroll, taxes and dividend payments,” Ivey said. “According to some estimates the value of a $5 million payroll is multiplied by a factor of 4.5 to 7.9 for a high-tech manufacturing company. This could imply that the positive economic impact of DaniMer’s business to Decatur County is in the range of $20 million to $40 million annually.”

DaniMer also has recently invested more than $15 million in a manufacturing plant and equipment in the county since 2006.

The company is also involved with several charitable and community service organizations, Ivey wrote in his letter.

DaniMer sponsors athletic booster programs at Grace Christian Academy and Bainbridge High School, as well as a local after-school meal and mentoring program for disadvantage children.

The company has also established objectives to achieve a zero waste manufacturing process and has internal recycling programs for office and food service waste and has ongoing water use reduction efforts underway, Ivey wrote.

Previous winners are Dairy Queen, RX Drug Center, Kres Jewelers, The Headquarters, Bainbridge Pharmacy, Ivey Funeral Home and Flint Media.