Macomb County recognized five businesses Tuesday during the first-ever Macomb County Business Awards.

A panel of judges reviewed 49 nominations to win a crystal award in one of four categories: efficiency, workforce development, diversification and corporate citizenship.

St. Clair Shores businesses nominated include the Go Green Salon for an Energy Efficience Expert award; Achatz Burgers for a Champion of Workforce Development award; Snapshot Design for a for a Diversification Leader award; First State Bank, Foot Solutions, Island Harbor Marina and Wigs 4 Kids for a Corporate Citizen award.

The panel of judges which reviewed the nominations included Dr. Jim Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College, and Gene Lovell, president of St. Clair Shores-based First State Bank.

The winners include:

• Energy Efficiency Expert - General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights for reducing energy consumption by 20 percent through the adoption of renewable energy sources.
• Corporate Citizen - Omega Plastics of Clinton Township for making a longstanding commitment to serving the community and allowing non-profit organizations to use their facilities.
• Diversification Leader - Fori Automation of Shelby Township for expanding beyond the automotive industry to serve the industries of aerospace, agriculture and recreational vehicles.
• Champion of Workforce Development - IBEW-NECA Electrical Industry Training Center in Warren for their apprenticeship program and ongoing education efforts to prepare their members for advances in technology.

“We are proud of the 18,000 businesses that have chosen Macomb County as a place to grow their business,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, in a release. “Each contributes to our community in a way that is valuable.”

Macomb Community College also received the 2013 Economic Development Partner of the Year award for the college's partnership with the Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department.