ninth small business grant

Well, the clock is always ticking in our biz/lives. This time we'd love to draw your attention to an important countdown. You have only 12 days until next Sunday (June 6th) to vote for grant winner, if you haven't already done so.

The five finalists for this ninth Idea Cafe's Small Business Grant have demonstrated determination and commitment to take their business to the next level. Plus, during the competition, they've shown us an inventive business approach which will undeniably inspire others who come to IdeaCafe seeking advice on starting and running a business. That is why we encourage you to support them by casting a vote for one of the finalists who deserves to win $1,000.00 from Idea Cafe.

Having the chance to vote for their favorite business idea, Idea Café regulars made their choice and selected the five finalists out of the list of our stellar semi-finalists. Now YOUR vote will determine who will actually get the grant -- $1,000.00 for their business from Idea Café.

We are honored to present you the people and companies who will compete for winning the grant:

Heart 2 Heart Ranch provides riding experiences for youth and adults with disabilities. Lessons are also available for their siblings. The Old Wild West lives again where persons with disabilities experience first hand the world of cowboys and cowgirls. Riders come to the ranch as inexperienced Cowpokes and leave as happy Buckaroos.

Twin Cities Cheap was developed in an effort to truly benefit both the consumers and the small to medium sized businesses of Minnesota. We have designed a unique marketing platform (patent pending) to generate competition needed for both parties to take full advantage of proposed discounts any one company can offer. We at TwinCitiesCheap.com are dedicated to help the people and business owners of Minnesota get together in a free market environment and plan to continue creating marketing and consuming opportunities for all.

Makeva Harold Foundation is a non-profit organization seeks to broaden the horizons of youth and adults at risk or in crisis through individualized need assessments, providing education, employment, therapeutic, and housing services intended for the development of independent, productive and successful members of the community.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Ink For Think is a progressive new personal service providing handwriting analysis at the touch of a button. This exclusive service offers solutions to questions of character and provides access to a private Handwriting Analyst. This is a first-of-it's-kind business that is supplying a valuable service that was previously unavailable. No other handwriting analysis company offers this simple, quick, and efficient form of service.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Branded Screen Printing & Design is a home based business that we started this past June. Since then, we have dedicated all of our time to screen printing for others in the community, offering our services at a discount to youth organizations, clubs and non-profits.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Characters of Character NFP teaches children about vital core values with our 2005 award winning National Promsing Practice Winning character education program.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

The All-American Fencing Academy provides recreational and competitive fencing training as well as facilities and equipment for the life-long sport of fencing.

Information from their grant application is available here. Read below for more, and if you have questions for our semi-finalists don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

Voting for selecting the five finalists for the 9th Idea Café Small Business Grant is in full swing. Some of the semi-finalists are already taking a lead. However, nothing is decided at this point. The poll closes on April 30th, so the results we are presenting below are not final. There is still time for the overall picture to change. Don't procrastinate to cast your vote and support your small business idol now!