No Matter The Outcome, Bristol A Winner In Small Business Revolution Contest

It seems like the entire Philadelphia area was supporting Bristol Borough and voting in Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution.

From reminders in regional media outlets to tweets from celebrities, Bristol received a ton of support both online and through in-person get out the vote efforts.

As the clock wound down to the end of voting at midnight Thursday, voters made a herculean effort to cast their ballots for Bristol. Voters chose Bristol from their tablets, mobile devices, laptops video game systems, work computers, home desktops, connected devices at area electronic stores and even from public computers at the Grundy Library and Bucks County Community College’s Lower Bucks Campus.

With the lead changing by the hour, Bill Pezza, chairman of Bristol Borough: Raising the Bar, said every single vote was important and a major push was made in the days.

“I get emotional when so many people are working together,” Pezza said. “This is more than a contest and all about community.”

Small Business Revolution officials told Pezza that the contest had more than 750,000 votes cast before voting had ended.

James Sell, executive director of the community college’s Bristol Township campus and a Bristol Borough resident, said the higher learning institution was proud to be able to help support the riverfront town in efforts to win a $500,000 grant and be part of the Small Business Revolution streaming series.

“I’m proud to be contributing with so many people,” Sell said in a computer lab packed with voters.

In the contest, Bristol was competing against Georgetown, South Carolina; Kingsburg, California; North Adams, Massachusetts; and Red Wing, Minnesota.

By Wednesday evening, Small Business Revolution posted to Facebook that Bristol had dropped from the first place lead to second place behind Red Wing, Minnesota. However, they called the race tight, giving locals encouragement to step up their voting.

Whether Bristol wins or loses, the competition has brought residents and the growing business community closer than any other time in the past 20 years.

Bristol residents and the owners of businesses seemed to have a pep in their step over the past few weeks as the town worked to win the Small Business Revolution.

No matter the outcome, Pezza said the residual impact of the Small Business Revolution competition has been a boost for Bristol. The town has pushed its name throughout the area and country, including several video segments on TV and online.

A spokesman for the Small Business Revolution said the results of the voting will be revealed on Wednesday, February 22 at 2 p.m.