KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Two national corporations have come together to help small businesses grow. The effort is like our local cash mobs, but on a bigger scale.
The contest is called Mission: Small Business. Twelve grants worth $250,000 each are being offered by Chase and Living Social.
To be eligible for one of the grants, businesses must have at least 250 votes on Facebook by June 30.
At Pick'n'Grin in Bearden, more than 500 students take lessons each week. The store, which opened in 1975, also buys and sells stringed instruments.
"It's just important to a lot of people and I want to keep it going as long as I can," said manager Tami Brewster.
Brewster said times have been tough recently and an extra $250,000 would mean the world.
"Get out of debt a little bit so we can free up that money to improve the store. I don't want to just survive, I want to keep growing," Brewster said.
To enter the competition, each business has to explain why they're unique, how they would use the money and how they're involved with the community.
"The begging stage has begun. Pleading, calling in favors, whatever I can do to try to get up to the 250 votes," said Amie Swanson, owner of Nostalgia on Homberg.
"We're at a point where we really need a second store. We have 40 dealers here, but we have 70 people who are on a waiting list," Swanson said.
She said winning the money would help not just her business, but all of the dealers.
"It's hopefully helping a lot of people achieve a small piece of the American dream, which is to own your own business," Swanson said.
The 12 nationwide winners will be chosen by a panel of business experts from those applicants with at least 250 votes.
To be eligible for one of the grants, businesses must have at least 250 votes on Facebook by June 30.
"I don't want to just survive, I want to keep growing," said Pick'n'Grin manager Tami Brewster.
"The begging stage has begun. Pleading, calling in favors, whatever I can do to try to get up to the 250 votes," said Amie Swanson, owner of Nostalgia on Homberg.
