Three northwest Kansas businesses are among the six finalists Governor’s 2012 Business Excellence Award.

Midland Marketing-Hays, Gove County Medical Center-Quinter and Nex-Tech in Lenora, along with Carter Automotive Warehouse-Coffeyville, Custom Foods Inc.-DeSoto and NetStandard Inc. -Kansas City, are the top six of 22 Regional Business Excellence Award Winners.

The Kansas Department of Commerce also named 97 Merit Award winners as part of Business Appreciation Month, the Department’s annual celebration of Kansas businesses and their contributions to their communities and the state economy.

The 119 businesses were nominated in one of four categories: manufacturing/distribution, service, retail and hospital/non-profit.

The Governor’s Award of Excellence- the top award given to a business by the state— will be announced June 12 at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in Manhattan.