AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage recently presented eight Maine companies — including Priority Real Estate in Topsham — with a 2014 Governor’s Award for Business Excellence during a reception at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland.

The 24th annual awards, administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and sponsored by FairPoint Communications, recognize businesses that are successful in a variety of ways.

“These businesses represent the best of the best here in Maine,” said LePage. “All eight of these companies are committed to quality workmanship, maintaining a loyal and dedicated work force, and giving back to the communities they do business in.”

The other award winners include: Kepware Technologies, Portland; Winxnet, Portland; Hall Internet Marketing, Portland; Huhtamaki, Waterville; GAC Chemical, Searsport; Fluid Imaging Technologies, Scarborough, and Haven’s Candies, Westbrook.

Priority Real Estate Group is a commercial real estate investment and development company. Established in 1998, Priority has built, owns and manages more than $100 million of professional, medical, educational, retail, manufacturing and industrial space.

While achieving success locally, Priority is also invested in its community. Ninety percent of all their financial contributions go to organizations that support children, provide heating assistance and address hunger prevention. Their biggest community development project to date is the Veterans Resource Center at Brunswick Landing. The center provides assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining benefits, services and resources to meet their needs and support their reintegration into the community.