Nova Friburgo's business community came together for a landmark evening as the city hosted the inaugural Prêmio Julius Arp de Empreendedorismo. The ceremony, organized by the Associação Comercial, Industrial e Agrícola de Nova Friburgo (Acianf), took place at the Teatro do Nova Friburgo Country Clube and drew over 300 attendees, including entrepreneurs, officials, and guests.
The awards program was designed to honor the legacy of Julius Arp, a pivotal industrial figure in the city's early 20th-century development. A total of 147 businesses participated, competing across five main categories: Comércio, Indústria, Serviços, Agronegócio, and Turismo & Cultura. An independent jury evaluated the nominees based on criteria such as innovation, economic performance, local impact, management, and sustainability.
In the Comércio category, Supermercado Serrazul claimed the top spot, followed by Supermercado Tio Dongo and Arte in Ouro. The Indústria award went to Monthal, with Alpendorf and Pedrinco rounding out the top three. For Agronegócio, Vinícola Terras Frias took first place, ahead of Ecomodas and Charcutaria Porco Alado.
The Serviços category saw Contar Consultoria e Contabilidade win first place, with Colégio Anchieta in second and Fri Online in third. In Turismo & Cultura, Reserva Ecológica Caiuá emerged as the winner, followed by Cervejaria Fribier and Cachaçaria Atrás da Pedra.
The night's premier honor, Empreendedora do Ano, was awarded to Eleonora Erthal, who also triumphed in the Indústria category. In her acceptance speech, Erthal reflected on her 35-year career and the challenges of entrepreneurship. "Whoever embarks on this path knows the daily struggles," she said. "It takes courage, resilience, and self-belief. The results don't come quickly, but they are worth the effort."
Acianf president Roosevelt Concy highlighted the strong turnout as a testament to the vitality of local commerce. "We saw a full house and nearly 200 registered companies. This demonstrates that Nova Friburgo is a strong brand with energy and the capacity for continued growth," he remarked. Jury member and entrepreneur Ladmir Carvalho added that such initiatives foster collaboration, allowing businesses to grow together and strengthen the entire region.
The organizers expressed hope that the Prêmio Julius Arp will become an annual tradition, solidifying its role as a key tool for promoting and valuing entrepreneurship in the region. Based on reporting from g1.