LEWISTON — Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, Mechanics Savings Bank and FISC Solutions were among area businesses honored Thursday night at an energetic and occasionally raucous ceremony at the Ramada Inn.

In all, six local businesses were named at the Best Places to Work in Maine awards banquet hosted by the The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management.

The ceremony, attended by several hundred, was frequently marked by thunderous applause and music cranked to full volume as 42 businesses were honored.

In a list of seven large Maine companies, Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice came in at No. 7, recognized for employee benefits such as a family-first policy, a wellness program and an emergency car loan plan.

FISC, also of Lewiston, was named the 13th best place to work in a list of 31 small- to medium-sized businesses. Award presenters cited the company for employee morale bolstered by celebrations for things such as milestones, performance and new hires.They also treat employees to a fishing derby and an ice cream derby each year.

Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice has 389 employees; FISC has 72.

At No. 12 in the small to medium group, Mechanics Savings Bank was lauded for treating its 73 employees well with things such as bonuses and a hot-air balloon ride each late summer.

There was nothing subdued about the celebrations. Each time a new award was announced, applause, whistles and shouted praise shook the walls of the Ramada Conference Room.

“This,” said presenter Peter Burke, president of Best Companies Group, “is awesome.”

Over the past year, Burke’s company evaluated each company’s employee policies and procedures, as well as responses from the company’s employees before the list was compiled.

“According to your employees,” he told the group, “you rock as employers.”

Long, loud applause followed.

The awards program aims to improve work conditions at businesses across the country. Each company is given an employee feedback report that can be used to make improvements each year in the workplace.

“Success generates hope,” said Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “Hope brings confidence and confidence is the bedrock of our economy.

“It’s all about teamwork,” Connors said, “and it’s about attitude. These 42 companies get that.”

Other businesses recognized as the Best Places to Work in Maine were:

Medtech Media of New Gloucester, Mountain LTD of New Gloucester and New Balance Athletic Shoe of Norway.