FedEx launched its 11th annual Small Business Grant Contest on Jan. 31, which will award $330,000 in grants and services to 10 U.S.-based small businesses.
Here are three things to know about FedEx’s Small Business Grant Contest.
When is the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest?
The entry period for the contest began Jan. 31 and runs until Feb. 21.
The 2022 contest attracted nearly 18,000 entrants. Over the past 10 years, more than 68,000 businesses have entered the contest and a total of more than $1.6 million in cash and prizes has been distributed to more than 111 businesses.
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How do I enter the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest?
To be eligible, a participant has to be a U.S.-based, for-profit small business with one to 99 employees, been in operations selling a product or service for six months or more as of Jan. 31 and have a shipping and printing need.
To enter, participants can visit smallbusinessgrant.fedex.com and enter their business information including a FedEx shipping account number, write a short profile about their business and upload up to four photos of their business or product, including their logo.
Participants also can submit a short “elevator pitch” video to supplement their entry, but it’s not required.
What do FedEx Small Business Grant Contest winners receive?
Each of the winners will receive $30,000, $1,000 FedEx Office print credit, a $300 voucher from My FedEx Rewards, and access to FedEx Premier Customer Service.
“Since 2012, we’ve helped small business owners achieve their dreams by growing and expanding their ventures through our Grant Contest,” said Jenny Robertson, FedEx senior vice president Integrated Marketing & Communications. “FedEx will soon celebrate fifty years of connecting people and possibilities with small businesses serving as a crucial part of our success. We can’t wait to see who wins this year and what the future holds for these incredible entrepreneurs.”
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The Top 100 finalists will be announced April 12. Following an additional judging period, winners will be announced May 11 at fedex.com/en-us/small-business/grant-contest.html.
Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.
