ATLANTA, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The coveted Inc. 5000 from Inc. magazine was recently unveiled, honoring the fastest-growing privately-held companies in America.  Of those named, Cox Business is proud to serve nearly 400 of them across its footprint with technology solutions to meet their growing business needs.  Cox business customers that made the Inc. 5000 have an opportunity to enter for a chance to win a trip to the Inc. 500|5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony on October 10-12 in Washington, D.C.  

The Inc. 500|5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony is an annual three day event that brings America's brightest, most successful business minds together to celebrate the achievements of the companies that appear on Inc. magazine's prestigious ranking. The event presents a compelling learning opportunity for business owners with keynotes from industry leaders coupled with endless networking with like-minded entrepreneurs. 

"We at Cox Business want to sincerely congratulate those businesses that made the Inc. 5000 list, as those are the entrepreneurs that inspire, innovate and fuel economic success across this nation, said Ken Kraft, vice president of Marketing for Cox Business.  "We strive to support small business growth in any way we can, and education is one way that our customers continuously tell us they value.  We hope the winning business walks away from the Inc. conference with new connections and inspiration to grow even more."    

Cox Business' social destination, Cox BLUE is updated daily with content designed to educate businesses on how to generate growth on a variety of topics including traditional and digital marketing tools, and employee and customer loyalty techniques in the form of articles, webinars, videos and infographics.  In addition, Cox Business recently launched a new customer education portal called MyAccount Resource Center designed to teach customers how to get the most out of their Cox Business products and services including case studies, product learning guides, company news and the latest from Cox BLUE. 

Giovanni Feroce, Chief Operating Officer of Alex and Ani, a Cox Business customer since 2011 and #94 on the Inc. 5000 said, "Cox Business is a valued partner that has undoubtedly helped Alex and Ani achieve success.  The company's level of customer engagement and technology excellence is world-class."  Giovanni will be speaking at the upcoming Inc. 500|5000 Conference about his business' success. 

Kraft added, "Alex and Ani represent the entrepreneurial spirit that's alive and well in this country.  Cox Business is working to create more opportunities for more start-ups to achieve their dreams like Alex and Ani." 

Cox Business and Inc. magazine are traveling the country this year with their first-ever Get Started events series offering local entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their business idea in front of an influential panel of judges for a $5,000 technology package.  Get Started OKC and Get Started CT took place earlier this year, while Get Started OC and Get Started RI are set for later this year.  

The registration and official rules of the Inc. 5000 and Cox Business drawing can be found by clicking www.inc.com/inc5000-coxcontest. Businesses are eligible if they receive service from Cox Business and are featured on the 2013 Inc. 5000 list. 

Cox Business provides voice, data and video services for more than 300,000 small and regional businesses, including healthcare providers, K-12 and higher education, financial institutions and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. According to Vertical Systems Group, Cox Business is one of the largest providers of business Ethernet services in the U.S. based on customer ports and has been consistently recognized for its leadership among small/midsize business data service providers. Cox is currently the seventh largest voice service provider in the U.S. and supports one million phone lines. For more information about Cox Business, Click Here or call 1-800-396-1609.

About Cox Communications:

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and new media advertising.

Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in cable telephone and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For seven years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; for seven years, Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.

About Inc.

Inc., the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. It provides hands-on resources and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology. In addition, Inc. looks beyond work to address the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Inc. inspires and informs, with cutting-edge coverage that reflects its readers' energy, brashness, and imagination.

SOURCE Cox Communications