The Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual gala event at the Red Lion Inn in Grants on Jan. 21.

Ron Williams, chamber board president said, “The banquet recognizes businesses, organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to our community.”

Citizens of the Year will be awarded to Lawrence J. Sanchez and Attorney Bruce Boynton.

Both recipients have garnered this distinction because of their commitment and dedication to the community.

Sanchez owned an insurance agency business for 21 years. He has served on numerous boards including the Grants Chamber of Commerce, Cibola County General Hospital board chairman, Rotary Club president, St. Teresa of Avila School board president, Cibola County Community Economic Development Foundation president and was campaign committee chair to elect Lemuel Martinez for District Attorney in 2000.

Boynton serves as the principal attorney for the Boynton Law Firm and received his Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville, Tenn. He was the Cibola County manager from 1983 to 1985 and the Cibola Arts’ Council past president, St. Teresa of Avila School board member, Grants/Cibola Chamber of Commerce board member and the Cibola County Democratic Party chairman.

The businesses that will be honored at this year’s event include:

 C & E Concrete (as a small business), Silver Linings (as a medium-size enterprise) and Peabody Energy, New Mexico (as a large company) will be honored as Businesses of the Year.

The Organization of the Year honors will be given to the National Park Service, the Community Outreach Center and RecycleCibola.

Three individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame: Dr. Gilbert Gutierrez, Bud Gunderson and Billy Stephens.

The new president, Terry Fletcher, will be welcomed. Community members Mike Makosky, Cibola General Hospital Chief Executive Officer, and Laura Jaramillo, Future Foundations Family Center executive director, will join the 15-member board, according to Star Gonzalez, Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Fletcher’s official term begins on July 1 in order to coincide with the start of the 2012 fiscal year, explained the chamber director. She added, that the organization will continue the initiatives, started by the current president focusing on promoting community pride and developing the shop local initiative called “Shop Cibola.”

The evening features a no-host bar starting at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7 p.m., and dancing at 8 p.m. with music provided by “Common Ground.” A silent auction to benefit the Denis Moleres Scholarship Fund will take place all evening.

Banquet tickets are $35 for singles and $50 for couples. Reserved tables for groups of eight are available upon advance request, according to Gonzales.

The Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1949 and was originally named the Grants-West Valencia County Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s banquet theme will be the New Mexico’s Centennial and will feature the state motto “Crescit Eundo.”

Call 287-4802 for more information.