Real estate company named King County Small Business of the Year
October 24, 2025
ABLE Environments, a real estate company that focuses on issues of accessible living and housing decisions for an aging population, was named the 2025 King County Small Business of the Year. The company, co-founded in 2017 by REALTORS® Barry Long and Tom Minty, helps real estate professionals, MLSs, and communities better recognize and market homes that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
King County Executive Shannon Braddock announced the winners at an awards event saying the awards honor outstanding local businesses whose innovation, resilience, and community contributions strengthen the county’s economy and cultural life. The awards, presented in eight categories, aim to highlight the vital role of small businesses in the King County economy and to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, equity, and sustainability.
Barry Long, a residential real estate broker, accessibility consultant and trainer, said the award “celebrates our commitment to helping everyone find a home that truly fits their needs – through education, training, real estate services, and consulting.”
Among its achievements, ABLE Environments created and launched searchable criteria for accessibility home features with a prominent display in the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. This feature was the first of its kind in the nation.
In describing the Small Business of the Year award, a statement on King County’s website said it is given to the small business that best exemplifies the tenacity, perspicacity, and audacity it takes to successfully operate a small business.
Data on the U.S. Census Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 71,070 non-farm firms with employees in King County during 2010, with 95% of these having 50 or fewer employees.