Three businesses around Sauk County's tourism and governmental hubs have something extra to celebrate this New Year: They were declared Businesses of the Year by the Sauk County Development Corporation.

St. Clare Hospital and Health Services was named the SCDC's first recipient for the title of best non-profit. The Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort took the title of best large business of the year, and Four Elements Herbals out of North Freedom was the best small business.

The businesses were selected because of significant recent accomplishments, community involvement and excellence in customer service, said Karna Hanna, executive director of SCDC, in a press release.

"Our 2008 small, large and non-profit business winners are all home-grown businesses that showcase the very best of what Sauk County has to offer," Hanna said. "The employees of all three of the corporations that we are honoring have worked long hours to make their organizations successful."

The county's best small business, Four Elements Herbals, was nominated by six employees. The business consists of a 130-acre organic farm, founded in 1986 by Jane Hawley Stevens.

Employees harvest plants from the farm and handcraft a full product line focusing on health, which are packaged on-site and sold to places such as the Grainery Organic and Natural Food store in Baraboo and the Willy Street Co-op and Community Pharmacy in Madison.

"Six local women whose schedules revolve around their commitments to children, family and the local community, help with all aspects of the business," the SCDC statement reads. "She and all of her employees are heavily involved with numerous projects that reflect the company's commitment to community and charitable contributions with a big focus on education."

This is the first time SCDC has had a non-profit category, according to Keri Olson, director of the St. Clare Foundation, which nominated St. Clare Hospital for the award.

Sandy Anderson, St. Clare Hospital's president, said she was excited about the award and thought much of that success is attributable to quality guidelines set by the hospital after winning the Wisconsin Forward of Excellence in 2000. The hospital is reapplying for the state distinction again this year.

SCDC said St. Clare has given more than $6 million to the community in a variety of ways, from assisting with unpaid Medicaid costs to health seminars or support of healthy events.

Despite tough economic times, St. Clare Hospital has added services, such as new outpatient rehabilitation services, service in Wisconsin Dells, the only radiation oncology service in the region north of Madison and advances in women's health normally only available in bigger cities.

Anderson said one of the reasons for the expansion is that administrators listen to customers and know what they need. She said updates to the childbirth center, for example, were not done until patients and health care workers got a chance to go into a life-size model of units and post notes where they wanted changes.

Olson and Anderson said because of that outreach, former patients and citizens want to donate for needed services in the hospital.

"The St. Clare Health Care Foundation is meeting its fund-raising goals for 2008 despite unprecedented and volatile economic conditions, thus demonstrating an appreciation by local residents for St. Clare's quality health care services," wrote Olson in her nomination of the hospital.

The Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort won the title of best large business of the year because of expansion since 1995, influence on the local economy and role in attracting tourists according to the SCDC.

The development corporation reported the hotel has grown from 75 rooms, to 444 rooms, 40 vacation villas, 76 condominiums and 35 cabins in about a decade. The resort now employs about 1,500 during summer and 750 during the off season - with about 550 of them residing in the county.

"The Wilderness Territory is (also) a major tourist destination in the Midwest, bringing in approximately 1.5 million guests," Hanna wrote in a press release.

"Through payroll and patrons, the business is a major contributor to the Sauk County economy."

The winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony hosted by the Sauk County Development Corporation Board of Directors.

The celebration will take place starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, at the location of one of the winners: The Wilderness Hotel in Lake Delton.

The public is invited to attend. To make reservations call the SCDC office at 355-2084.

Tickets to the event are $20 per person. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, January 14, 2009.