GT Solar was the winner of the 2010 Business of the Year award at the the 46th annual Merrimack Chamber of Commerce Recognition Banquet, held at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua on Friday.

GT Solar, headquartered at 243 Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack, makes equipment that other companies use to make solar panels.

An engraved plaque was accepted by Fred Kocher, senior adviser for government at GT Solar and president of the New Hampshire High Technology Council.

Presenting the award were last year’s category winners, Frank and Adele Belfsky of Living at Home Senior Care.

The winner of the 2010 Business Leader of the Year was Chris Kachmar, owner of The Stocked Fridge, a meal assembly and catering company founded in 2006.

She was cited for her entrepreneurship and creativity. The plaque was bestowed by Dr. Tony Lowenberg of Family Chiropractic of Merrimack, the previous winner.

The Merrimack Chamber of Commerce, headed by Executive Director Deb Courtemanche, is an association of nearly 250 business owners and associates offering services to the Merrimack region and beyond.

“Chamber members have shown immense community spirit in their quest to serve the public during economic times, which have been challenging,” Courtemanche said. “It’s the stuff that made our country great.”

Community spirit was illustrated further with a special award, the Pro Patria Award, presented to the Merrimack Fire Department. It was bestowed by representatives of the New Hampshire Committee of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between civilian employers and reservists.

Banquet organizers also showed special recognition to a member of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce by extending a President’s Award, offered by Chamber President Bob Ellis of the Stonebridge Benefits Group.

It went to chamber volunteer Emily Otterman, owner of Bookkeeping Services, for her help in handling invoicing, billing and budget reconciliation.