It’s back with a new name. Nominate your favorites in the Best of Central California

The central San Joaquin Valley’s most prestigious awards competition is back — and it’s more exciting and engaging than ever.

The Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice competition has a new name and a higher profile. The Best of Central California is live at bestofcentralcalifornia.com and is accepting nominations through Friday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.

Here’s the lowdown:

▪ Readers are invited to nominate their favorite individuals and businesses in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties.

▪ Once nominations are received, they are vetted by a third party, and if they meet the criteria of the category, and are in the contest market, the nominations will be moved to an online ballot for voting. Nominations and voting are done online. Once voting begins, voters are permitted to vote once every 24 hours.

▪ The voting results are tabulated, and the winners cast by an unbiased (independent) third party. The newspaper is not involved.

▪ Nominations for the Best of Central California opened at noon Jan. 24 and are accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 4. Voting opens at noon Feb. 21 and closes at 5 p.m. March 11. Winners will be announced in a new magazine that will be included in the Sunday, May 22 edition of The Fresno Bee and at the year-round destination website, bestofcentralcalifornia.com.

▪ The contest is organized in 10 main categories: Agriculture, Eat & Drink, Education, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, Law, Motors, Services, Shopping, and Things to Do. There are more than 300 sub-categories that will be on the ballot.

▪ This is an opportunity for the audience to nominate their favorite business such as a pet groomer, medical provider, an accountant or agricultural lender or insurer. It is a unique way to celebrate the places, restaurants and local businesses they favor and frequent.

▪ The Best of Central California reimagines and expands the popular People’s Choice contest. There is no cost to be nominated, voted on or to win.

▪ The Best of Central California is produced in partnership with Oregon-based NERUS Strategies, known for some of the largest local contests in America including the Best of Las Vegas, Minnesota’s Best, Salt Lake City Best and The Best of Branson, to name a few. McClatchy, the newspaper’s parent company, remains fully committed to community-focused journalism delivered digitally and in print. Advertisers, sponsors, newsroom staff and employees of McClatchy do not hold an advantage or influence over who will be named Gold, Silver or Bronze winners. That is left entirely up to voters.

▪ Readers can find all rules, key dates and how to get involved at bestofcentralcalifornia.com or at fresnobee.com/best2022.