"Small business owners are often the unsung heroes of our communities,"said Joan Enticknap, president and COO of HomeStreet Bank. "This is ouropportunity to celebrate the achievements of small business and recognizethose individuals and companies that make our region a better place to liveand work."

The 2008 HomeStreet Bank Small Business Spotlight Award winners are:

--  Geo Resources, LLC (Fife) -- GeoResources, LLC is a geotechnical    engineering company serving the Puget Sound region since 1995.    GeoResources owners, Brad and Gretchen Biggerstaff, work diligently to    ensure that the company's staff is well cared for and treated with respect.    This includes generous benefits, opportunities for professional development    and flexible work schedules.  Each year, Brad Biggerstaff participates on    the Team Seattle car racing team that raises funds to benefit Children's    Hospital.--  Gravity Payments (Seattle) -- Gravity Payments provides full spectrum    payment processing solutions, including to small- and medium-sized    merchants throughout the U.S.  The company provides its employees with    unique benefits including 401(k) contributions regardless of the level of    employee contribution, regular deliveries of fresh produce, and free bus    passes.  Since its inception in 2004, Gravity Payments has contributed two    percent of revenue to nonprofit organizations throughout the Puget Sound    region.--  GreenWorks Realty (Seattle) -- GreenWorks Realty was founded in 2002    with the vision of creating a full-service real estate agency to promote    greener lifestyles and sustainable communities.  Staff and agents for    GreenWorks actively support nonprofit environmental organizations through    volunteerism, board memberships, educational forums and public speaking.    Though agents are considered independent contractors, GreenWorks has    created a profit sharing reward system for both its staff and agents.--  Kalani Packaging, Inc. (Everett) -- Kalani Packaging's President and    co-founder, Lono Dickson, is a Native Hawaiian who brings much of the    culture of the islands into the company.  A national distributor of    industrial and retail packaging, Kalani Packaging is a full service packing    company from design to finished product.  Kalani Packing offers its    employees full benefits and a matching 401(k).  The company has contributed    packing materials for relief shipments to countries such as Thailand after    it experienced the tsunami.  Kalani Packaging also supports its local    community through a variety of nonprofit organizations in Snohomish County.--  Sustainable Business Consulting (Seattle) -- Sustainable Business    Consulting (SBC) works with companies to find ways to maintain and increase    profitability while incorporating sustainable business practices.  A    company that is committed to leading by example, SBC employees are paid for    up to 50 hours of volunteer service each year.  Additionally, SBC    contributes 10 percent of its net profits to nonprofit organizations.  SBC    offers employees full health benefits, generous vacation and holiday time    off, including time to participate in up to two charitable races or    triathlons and one free ski day each year.  SBC also purchases bus passes    for staff and provides cash incentives to employees who use alternative    transportation for commuting.--  Tom's Automotive Service (Seattle) -- Since 1971, Tom's Automotive    Service has provided customers with quality automotive service and repair    on most foreign and domestic vehicles.  The company offers medical and    dental insurance, 401(k), disability plan, Costco memberships, a shoe    allowance for work boots and up to four weeks of paid vacation.  Tom's    Automotive Services is active in the West Seattle community.  It offers    discounts to customers who bring in canned food for the West Seattle Food    Bank, and it also services and repairs the food bank's van at no charge.    Tom's Automotive has been designated a Five Star EnviroStar business for    reducing waste and proper handling of hazardous materials.    

A celebration to honor the six outstanding winning businesses will be heldat a luxury suite in Safeco Field on August 1, 2008 when the Mariners playthe Orioles. Winning business owners and their guests will be photographedwith 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee, Dave Niehaus, and presented with acommemorative home plate plaque. The businesses will also be profiled onKOMO "Small Business Spotlight" segments.

Founded in 1921, family- and employee-owned HomeStreet Bank is one of thelargest privately owned banks in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.Headquartered in Seattle, the company has assets of $2.9 billion and anetwork of 30 branch and mortgage offices. HomeStreet Bank is one of theonly banks in the country that has consistently received an "outstanding"rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).