The N.C. Technology Association (NC TECH) is accepting applications for its annual NC Tech Awards, the only statewide tech awards program. The deadline was extended to July 31.

According to a news release, the awards recognize innovation, growth, impact and leadership in various categories under three awards:

• The Technology Corporate Awards: Recognizes technology companies for innovation, excellence and growth.
• The Use of Tech Awards: Recognizes companies, organizations and institutions for their technology use.
• The Individual Awards: Recognizes leaders for their accomplishments and/or impact on the tech sector.

At last year's event, three Wilmington firms and one local company’s CIO won awards. In the 2023 awards, Apiture was one of five winners in the Great Tech Places to Work category. Life science company OpiAID won in the AI + Data Analytics category. Software company Ohanafy was one of the winners in the Top Ten Startups to Watch category. And Arthur Phidd, of Wilmington’s Reeds Jewelers, won Chief Information Officer of the Year.

This year's finalists will be notified Oct. 1, and winners will be announced at the NC TECH Awards on Dec. 3 at the Raleigh Convention Center. The event typically draws about 700 attendees.

NC TECH recently hosted a webinar about the awards and the application process: