ELIGIBILITY

  • The Entrant confirms that their company is a current member in good standing of the Collier Building Industry Association.
  • Entrants must sign the 2025 Registration/Payment form by entry due dates.
  • All projects (1-50) must be located within Collier County & Lee Counties.
  • Eligibility dates: Projects must be completed between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025(applies to all categories except 50).
  • Eligibility Exclusion: Previous year winning entries cannot be submitted in the same category, except in categories 19-Best Showroom, 46-50.
  • Licensing: The company must hold the required state or county license within the specific category(ies) for which they are applying.
  • The maximum number of entries cannot exceed 35 from an individual member.
  • All entry information is submitted electronically using a CBIA-designated website.

DEADLINES & IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Registration is open April 14 – May 30, 2025.
  • Early Registration: Registration and payment must be received between April 14 – May 23, 2025. Completed entry information must be uploaded by June 30, 2025.
  • Late registration: Registration and payment must be received by May 30, 2025. Completed entry information must be uploaded by June 30, 2025.
  • The bulk entry price applies to early registration only. Registration and payment must be received between April 14 – May 23, 2025. Completed entry information must be uploaded by June 30, 2025.
  • If entry information is NOT uploaded by midnight, Monday, June 30, 2025, it will be considered disqualified. No refunds are provided.
  • Workshop: May 16th, at CBIA Office, 9:00-11:00 a.m. A reservation is required to: Awards@cbia.net. This workshop will cover how to submit your entries properly and give you a look at the back end of the portal.
  • Sand Dollar Sponsorship Opportunities: Due by August 01, 2025.
  • Virtual Judging: August 04 -August 08, 2025.

FEES STRUCTURE/REFUNDS

  • Sand Dollar Awards Gala: Saturday, September 27, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples (Beach Resort).
  • Early registration fee – Categories 1-50: $250 per entry (due by May 23, 2025).
  • Entry Bulk Price applies to the Early registration date ONLY – April 14-May 23, 2025:
    (11-15 entries): $2,750
    (16-20 entries): $4000
    (21-25 entries): $5,250
    (26-35 maximum entries): $6,500
  • Late registration fee – Categories 1-50: $350 per entry (due by May 30, 2025).
  • Marketing Awards Categories 30-45: Marketing Award entries require that the submitting company have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.
  • Sales Awards Categories 46-49: Sales Award entries require the individual entering to have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.
  • Sales & Marketing Council membership dues are $100 per individual/year.
  • No refunds or exchanges past June 30, 2025.
  • No refund for disqualified entries.

CATEGORIES INFORMATION:

  • There are 50 categories available, including:
  • Product Design Awards: 1-15 | Interior Design Awards: 16-21|Remodeling Awards: 22-24 Commercial Awards: 25-29 | Marketing Awards: 30-45 | Sales Awards: 46-50
  • Once you receive your login information, you can see all additional questions and requirements for each entry. You must review each category for specific or additional requirements.
  • Review the Judging criteria to see if you meet the entry requirement.
  • Review your home/project style to see if you meet the entry requirement.
  • Review the subcategory to see if you meet the entry requirement.
  • Review the pricing category, if applicable.
  • You can only enter categories for which you hold the required county or state license.

JUDGING INFORMATION

  • Virtual judging will take place for all categories from August 04-08, 2025.
  • Judging will be done paperless – all supporting entry information is shared with the Judges.
  • Incomplete entries are not judged, and no refunds will be provided.
  • Each entry is judged on its merit by qualified, impartial judges outside Collier and Lee Counties.
  • A point scoring method will be used based on a scale of 1-5 points.
  • Entries must receive at least 75% of the total points possible to be eligible for an award, and all scores are kept confidential.
  • Judges do not have your contact information during judging.
  • The Judge’s decisions are final. They have the discretion to disqualify an entry that does not supply the required materials and/or does not meet the specified judging criteria requested.

LOGIN & SUBMISSION INFORMATION

  • Login information is to be provided by CBIA staff (once the Registration/Payment Form is processed with payment).
  • Gather entry submittal materials and have them handy as you log in to the submission area.
  • Once ready, go to the “Submission tab” and enter your login information provided by CBIA staff.
  • Go to Dashboard to start entering your entry(ies).
  • Click on the corresponding bar area (blue sections) where you wish to begin entering. Click the + sign in each section to see various categories available and close the tab.
  • Upon entering your entry(ies), information will show up in “YOUR Award Entries” section at the bottom of the Dashboard. Depending on your screen resolution, often requires scrolling down.
  • You must submit pictures, 1920x1080px at 96dpi or larger. The main picture (#1) MUST be horizontal view only NOT vertical, 5MB max size, jpeg, jpg format only. Amount of pictures required will depend on the category being submitted (6-10 pictures may be required). Unbranded company pictures are allowed ONLY.
  • Virtual tour/video upload if available. Unbranded company videos are allowed only. Exception of categories, #30-45 & #50
  • You must submit floors plan (blueprints for commercial entries-where applicable), and community maps, 8.5”x11”, jpeg, jpg or pdf, 5MB max size. For 2-story homes or commercial projects, floor plans/blueprints must be collated into 1 document. Unbranded company documents are allowed only. Exception of category #50.
  • When pictures/floor plans/blueprints/community maps exceed the maximum size allowed, your entry may NOT SAVE and information MAY be LOST. If unsure of the size, first add other information on the entry before adding the picture or floor plan/blueprint and hit save. Then go back and add pictures, floorplan/blueprint (if applicable).
  • Picture, floor plan, community maps, or blueprints CANNOT have a company name displayed anywhere. Exception of categories, #30-45 & #50.
  • Marketing Statements will be required for each entry (unless otherwise specified). Statement to address the topics pertaining to judging criteria, target market, any unusual constraints or opportunities the project presented, how the marketing/project objectives were met, any unique features of the entry, and outstanding features. Do not include your company name – except where allowed.
  • Only enter the total of entries committed in the Registration/Payment form.
  • Each entry will have a more specific set of questions that must be provided (if applicable). Examples of questions; square footage (under air/ total), base and retail price, construction cost, what is included in the project, and other items related to the project will be asked.
  • You can use “SAVE THIS ENTRY” (Green box) to save your work until ready to submit the entry. If you check “Yes, I am ready to submit this entry” it is submitted to CBIA staff and your entry can no longer be changed or modified.
  • A maximum number of characters is allowed for the award, see the “AWARDS GUIDELINE”  picture below:

FORMS

Registration/Payment Form – Click here to obtain the form
Note: Entries will not be considered fully submitted and released for judging until the invoice is paid.

Marketing Awards Categories 30-45: Marketing Award entries require that the submitting company have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.

Sales Awards Categories 46-50: Sales Award entries require the individual entering to have a current CBIA Sales & Marketing Council membership.

Click here  for the SMC Application 

Send Registration/Payment & SMC Form to: awards@cbia.net

Note: All registrations accepted on or before May 23, 2025 (early registration) or May 30, 2025 (late registration) – No Exceptions.

Publishing Rights of Materials
All entries become the property of the Collier Building Industry Association, and their return is not guaranteed. CBIA may publish and/or reproduce entries in any CBIA, FHBA, or NAHB publications and/or products and grant permission for entries to be published or reproduced in any trade or consumer publication. All winners will be published on the www.SandDollarAward.com website.