Nine businesses and organizations - including two from the Dayton area - were recognized with awards from the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, the organization said.

Channon Lemon, director of the Minority Economic Development Council of Dayton, was recognized with the council's Advocate of the Year award, according to a news release.

Hightowers Petroleum Co., a Franklin-based business, was among the companies that won a Minority Business Enterprise award, the council said. Hightowers was in the Class IV category with annual sales of more than $50 million, the council said.