Power (impact) of the Southside Incubator.

This award recognized a business that has demonstrated exceptional growth, promise, and/or scalability within its early years of operation or within a short period of time. The award also honors a business and/or entrepreneur who has shown resilience and strategic visioning to position their enterprise as a rising force and industry leader within their respective field.

Named in honor of Springfield’s legendary vibraphonist and cultural trailblazer, the Johnny Lytle Innovation Award recognizes a Black entrepreneur, creative, and/or business whose forward-thinking vision, bold ideas, and disruptive practices are reshaping their industry and/or cultural community. Like Johnny Lytle’s groundbreaking impact on the world of jazz, recipients of this award are pioneers — pushing boundaries, embracing risk, and setting new standards for excellence and originality in business.

This award honors a business and/or entrepreneur whose work exemplifies Black excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to community service. Named in tribute to Sheila Henry’s decades of leadership in both the business and civic sectors, this award celebrates those who uplift others, foster opportunity, create strategic connections, and build a legacy of impact within our community. 

This distinguished award honors a visionary business leader with a long-standing impact that has shaped the cultural, economic, and/or social fabric of the community. This award is named after the historic corridor that was known as Springfield’s largest African American business district. Decades later, the Southside Incubator now calls this area home and is located at 515 S. Yellow Springs Street. Longtime natives and elders can still recall a bustling and vibrant stretch of home-grown stores—from grocers and butchers to bakers and tailors. The incubator seeks to rekindle South Yellow Spring Street’s glory, honor, and history.