AnnArbor.com’s Business Review is announcing the 21 nominees for our 6th annual “Deals of the Year” awards.

The nominees in seven sectors represent businesses that exhibited significant progress over the past year, with impact measured on the company, its employee base and the community.

The winners - along with a Company of the Year and Executive of the Year - will be kept secret until they’re announced Nov. 5 during the “Deals of the Year’ gala at the EMU student center.

Each nominee will be presented with 2 tickets to the event. Tickets for individual seats and full tables also are available for the largest black-tie business event in Ann Arbor.

Nominees were chosen by AnnArbor.com with input from the community and key business leaders.

Previous winners include the North Campus Research Complex (2009 Deal of the Year) and Arboretum Ventures (2009 Company of the Year).

The event also will include presentations of the annual FastTrack awards, presented by AnnArbor SPARK.

For details on the event, visit the Deals of the Year website.

Commercial Real Estate
Kapnick Insurance: The company bought the former La-Z-Boy store at Briarwood, turning the high-profile retail building into a consolidated office for its two Ann Arbor operations.
Masco Cabinetry: The former Flint Ink headquarters in Ann Arbor Township will become another corporate headquaters, this time for a division of Masco Inc. that’s relocating from Lenawee County and expanding.
University of Michigan Credit Union: The 7-branch operation will move its administrative staff into the former Ann Arbor News building in downtown Ann Arbor.

Construction & Development
120-124 W. Michigan, Ypsilanti/Maurer Properties: Three long-vacant buildings downtown were purchased for redevelopment into loft apartments and updated retail space.
Maple Shoppes/Magellan Properties: The developer turned some dated retail properties at Maple and Dexter into the city’s first commercial brownfield redevelopment, featuring Aldi and room for other new stores.
North Quad/University of Michigan: The first new dormitory on U-M’s campus in decades, North Quad also contains classroom space and added hundreds of residents to South State.

Health Care
Altarum Institute: The Ann Arbor-based nonprofit is adding 25 jobs after receiving a $19.6 million federal grant to establish the Michigan Center for Effective IT Adoption, which is helping health care organizations adopt electronic medical records technology.
Kellogg Eye Center: The University of Michigan’s $132 million new eye care tower includes 7 eye care clinics with surgery suites and research space solidifying the center’s status a national destination for eye care.
NanoBio Inc.: The University of Michigan biotechnology spinoff is adding 4 laboratories and office space after striking a licensing deal with GlaxoSmithKline, which is paying up to $40 million for the right to market NanoBio’s cold sore treatment.

Nonprofit
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber of Commerce: The merger of two chambers made financial sense for each group but also sent a regional message of effective consolidation.
Fair Food Network: The Ann Arbor-based nonprofit regrouped after financial disaster destroyed its first incarnation, and over the last year gained steam in part due to a $3 million grant to connect low income people to local produce.
Merit Network: The Ann Arbor-based nonprofit received more than $111 million in federal funds to lead an initiative to extend broadband Internet access to universities, schools and public institutions throughout the Midwest.

Research
Cerenis Therapeutics: The biotechnology firm, which has dual headquarters in Ann Arbor and France, received more than $51 million in venture capital to accelerate its HDL cholesterol therapies, reflecting Michigan’s biggest VC deal in nearly four years.
Domino’s Pizza: The Ann Arbor Township-based international chain spent 18 months researching and testing an entirely redesigned pizza recipe, and customers and franchisees embraced it this year, turning a risky move into a significant revenue boost.
Quantum Signal: The University of Michigan imaging and robotics technology spinoff plans to add 47 jobs to support its technology development after reaching a deal to acquire Saline’s former Union School.

Retail
Jolly Pumpkin Café and Brewery: Owner Ron Jeffries moved his beer-making business into the retail realm, opening a bar and restaurant into a long-vacant space on Ann Arbor’s Main Street and during its first year turning it into one of the street’s top destinations.
Spotted Dog Winery: The Saline retailer went from a few commercial clients to 45 in a matter of months, prompting the store to purchase the 6,000-square-foot former Stucchi’s manufacturing facility in Saline to expand its winemaking capacity.
Underground Printing: The local screen printer also is adding retail locations in select college towns in the U.S. The growth touched two Ann Arbor locations, when the company bought the iconic Moe’s Sport Shop and opened a store on Main Street.

Technology
Arbor Networks: The University of Michigan spinoff network security firm was acquired by Plano, Texas-based Tectronix Communications, which plans to add 30 software jobs in Ann Arbor to support the company’s growth.
Mobiata: The Ann Arbor-based mobile software startup expects to double its revenue in 2010 and is actively hiring after runaway success for its mobile apps and new corporate partnerships with global travel companies.
Renaissance Venture Capital Fund: The fund, led by Ann Arbor-based investor Chris Rizik, raised $50 million from corporate partners to provide cash to venture capital firms with a focus on Michigan technology investments.

Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.