HENRY COUNTY, Va. – Cocoa Trail Chocolates in Collinsville has only been open for about three months, but co-owner Brittany Agee's sweet treats already have a loyal following.
"We have slowed down since our first week. We had a line going out the door. We're trying our best to stay stocked up," Agee said. "We have a lot of children come almost every other day. They know exactly what they want."
A friend nominated her and her husband's candy shop for Independent We Stand's national Independent Business of the Year award.
Through Dec. 10, you can vote for the business.
The winner gets $50,000Â worth of prizes, including cash and help with marketing the business.
"The main thing that we would like to have is the marketing. My husband I, we're not experts at all at marketing. Just to have that extra help would be really nice," Agee said.
Mountain Valley Brewing in Axton is also vying for your vote.
The owners were out of town Wednesday, but in a phone interview co-owner Peggy Donivan said the marketing help is also what they need the most.
"It was great just to be nominated and then we started pushing it out to see if we could get people to vote for us because we, honestly, really need that marketing makeover," Donivan said.
Her husband and co-owner, Herb Atwell, believes growing the brewery is important for Martinsville and Henry County.Â
"It seems to be bringing the community together, so I think it's another neat aspect of what we're being able to do," Atwell said.
Walkabout Outfitter in Lexington and Hideaway Cafe in Winchester are also made the list of 25 quarter finalists.
The winner of the competition will be announced on Dec.13.