GIO RESTAURANT HONORED AS CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS OF YEAR FOR OUR REGION

Honored at Formal State Recognition Celebration - Selected from among 3.7 million small companies in California Editor's note: Can we pick 'em or what? Gio was one of the very first restaurants we covered when we launched, with a rave review by our "Vines & Steins" connoisseur columnist: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=0809vinesteins

May 26, 2009 (Sacramento) -- A crowd of 500 business leaders, legislators, corporate partners and small business dignitaries applauded as Gio Restaurant was honored as ‘California Small Business of the Year for the 36th Senate District. Gabriel and Tracy Giordano received this special recognition from Senator Dennis Hollingsworth to applaud a single district-based small business for exemplifying the contributions of the California’s 3.7 million small business owners to the California economy. To highlight this special day, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed the audience and congratulated all of this year’s winners. The Governor reflected on his love of California and how all of his business opportunities were due to living and working in this fine State. The award was announced on May 26th at the annual California Small Business Day in Sacramento, and Gio Restaurant joined small businesses of the year identified in over 75 state legislative districts. Scores of legislators joined in chorus to salute the spirit of entrepreneurship among California's small business owners and operators throughout this day-long event. “We are humbled and grateful to have been selected for this award and it is a tribute to our employees customers and community,” said Gabriel Giordano. “This is a special event when government, businesses, associations and community come together to honor the small business contributions of innovations, job creation and economic growth to the State of California,” said Betty Jo Toccoli, President of the Small Business Association, on behalf of the two-dozen small business organizations hosting the event. Small businesses serve as the primary economic engine that drives the state’s economy. Over one half of Californians employed in the private sector work for a small business. The state’s small firms produce more new jobs, more inventions, and more patents, than any other size company in California or any other state in the nation.