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The Albert Lea Tribune’s much-awaited Readers’ Choice Awards voting period opens online next week with voting scheduled from May 29 through July 3.

The top five businesses nominated in April and May in each category have moved on to the voting round, and it’s your time to now pick your favorite out of the finalists in each category.

This contest is an important part of what we do, and in many ways gets to the heart of a healthy community. This isn’t an agency or group recognizing a business, individual or organization — this is the people themselves. Those people visit local businesses who are led by our neighbors and friends.

People can vote once per day per device online, and print ballots will come out in the newspaper on June 8.

One random participant name will be drawn during the voting round to win a one-year digital membership to the Tribune.

We urge each and every one of you to take part in this competition to recognize those who deserve to be recognized with the Readers’ Choice Award.

We look forward to recognizing the much-loved businesses in the community.

Winners will be announced July 31.