Small Businesses Competing for Big Grant

This article was reported and written by editors Nicole Mooradian and Gina Tenorio.

More than a dozen Redondo Beach-based small businesses are asking the community for support as they compete against other businesses nationwide for $250,000 grants through Chase as part of its Mission Main Street Grants program.

The businesses, which include a bean-to-bar chocolate maker, an automotive racing team, a jeweler and a cycling website, among others, need 250 votes on the Mission Main Street Grants website to move onto the next round in the grant process, according to organizers. Visitors to the site can cast their votes for multiple businesses.

Here is a list of participating Redondo Beach businesses:

• Bummas
• Cerro Grande Corp
• Conscious Co-Parenting Institute
• H.I.D.E. Inc.
• Jen's Jewels
• Kyle Thorne & Associates
• Life Tree Therapy
  
• Marsatta Fancy Chocolates
• Natural Chic Jewelry
• Nikola Chess (CPUTER, LLC)
• PM Racing
• Prince International Services
• Red Kite Prayer
• Tax Solutions
• The Art Dept
• WeFixPrinters.com
• Zach Steeber

The voting deadline is Nov. 15. Once the voting period ends, a panel of judges will choose 12 winners from the eligible businesses.

The judging panel is made up of senior vice presidents, chief executive officers, managers and more, including U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer David C. Chavern, Google Vice President of U.S. Sales and Operations Jon Kaplan and Chase Senior Vice President Donna Vieira.

Mission Main Street Grants will award a total of $3 million to small businesses across America, organizers wrote. All businesses that apply for a grant and meet the eligibility requirements will receive a special advertising offer from Premier Sponsor, Google.

In addition, the 12 grant recipients will be eligible to receive a trip to Google for an exclusive small business marketing workshop with Google experts and a Google Chromebook Pixel laptop, organizers wrote.