Individuals can now nominate their favorite community-centric corporations for Washington’s highest civics award.

Secretary of State Kim Wyman has announced that her office is accepting nominations for a 2013 Corporations for Communities Award. The nomination deadline is Sat., Aug. 31. The Corporations for Communities program began in 2009 as a way to recognize exceptional Washington businesses that demonstrate a commitment to giving in order to improve local or regional social and environmental conditions. The program is run by the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Division.

“Washington is blessed with many companies committed to giving back to their communities,” said Wyman. “Corporations for Communities offers the public a way to recognize some of these caring and generous businesses. Now more than ever, it is important to honor those corporations that make a difference.”

In 2011, Tacoma-based Korsmo Construction received the award in the small corporation category. Last year, Tacoma-based Brown & Brown of Washington received an honorable mention in the small corporation category.

Nomination forms can be found online at sos.wa.gov/corps/corpsforcommunities.

Wyman will choose one large and one small corporation from among the public’s nominations this summer. Her selections will receive a National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion, the highest civics honor that the state awards. Anyone can nominate businesses for the award. Any for-profit corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) or Limited Partnership is eligible for the award. Nominees need to be registered with the Office of Secretary of State and must be in compliance with state and federal laws. Winners will be announced by early October. An awards ceremony will be held in Wyman’s office later that month.