Posted on August 23, 2012

Chase, LivingSocial Announce Recipients of 'Mission: Small Business' Grant Program

Chase and the daily deal platform LivingSocial have announced grants totaling $3 million to twelve small businesses through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-supported Mission: Small Business program, which is designed to increase awareness of the critical role small businesses play in local communities.

Grants of $250,000 each were awarded to small businesses that demonstrated a feasible growth plan, creativity, overall passion for their business, and the potential to make a positive impact on their local community. The recipients were selected by a panel of judges after receiving at least two hundred and fifty votes from consumers through the Mission: Small Business site. Eligible businesses must have been in operation for at least two years and have fewer than a hundred employees.

Grant recipients include Bright Power (New York City), Carmin Industries (Jacksonville, Alabama), Didrick Medical (Naples, Florida), EcoScraps (Provo, Utah), Ellessco LLC (Ventura, California), Lasher Sport (Anchorage, Alaska), PlanetReuse (Kansas City, Missouri), RonWear Port-able Clothing (Beachwood, Ohio), Skillastics (Corona, California), the American Grilled Cheese Kitchen (San Francisco), UsedCardboardBoxes.com (Los Angeles), and Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (Brooklyn, New York).

"We were overwhelmed by the number of passionate small businesses that applied for the Mission: Small Business grant program and the number of consumers that showed their support," said Richard Quigley, president of the business card division at Chase. "Every day, small businesses inspire us and fuel economic growth. Mission: Small Business is another way we can support small businesses for all they do in their local communities and across the country."