Eight years and 42,000 contestants later, FedEx once again is going to bat for small businesses through its annual Small Business Grant Contest. This year’s twelve award winners from around the U.S. will share $250,000 in cash and prizes.
The grand prize winner receives $50,000 and $7,500 in FedEx print and business services. Second place receives $30,000 and $5,000 and ten third place winners each receive $15,000 and $1,000, respectively.
The contest is open to U.S.-based for-profit small businesses having 1-99 employees that have been operating for six months or more as of February 16, 2021. Shipping must be a core service they use in their business. Applicants are also asked for business information and their FedEx shipping account number, as well as a written profile about their business. Up to four photos of their business or product, with logo may submitted online. Video elevator pitches are optional.
In addition, FedEx is introducing a new award for 100 finalists in which they will receive access to one-on-one financial coaching provided by Accion Opportunity Fund, a nonprofit small business lender. They will also have the opportunity to attend the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s National Conference and access to webinars on the ICIC platform, and mentor matching with SCORE.
In continuation of last year’s recognition of veterans, one winner will be selected for the “Veteran-Owned Business Award Winner, reflecting FedEx’s commitment to support U.S. military veteran small business ownership and access to funding. Also, as in past years, one of the 3rd Place prize winners will receive the “Entrepreneur Choice Award Winner,” that is decided upon by the FedEx Entrepreneur Advisory Board comprised of former grant winners and small business owners from around the country.
Past contests have attracted much attention. In 2020 more than 720,000 votes were cast and more than 4,100 applicants participated from across the United States. California-based Access Trax was last year’s top winner for their manufacture of a foldable pathway that allows people with physical disabilities to access outdoor terrain.
“The grant funds were instrumental in breathing life into Access Trax, not only as a startup but as a small business at the start of the economic crisis due to the pandemic,” said Kelly Twichel, Access Trax owner.
The application period runs from February 16 to March 9, 2021, with a public vote to take place from March 10 – March 24, 2021, to narrow down the applicant pool for the next stage in which the Top 100 are chosen. The winners of the FedEx Ninth Annual Small Business Grant Contest will be announced May 10, 2021, at www.fedex.com/grantcontest
“Running a small business isn’t easy, and this year, it’s been tougher than ever, which is why FedEx continues to champion and support these entrepreneurs,” said Jenny Robertson, senior vice president Integrated Marketing and Communications at FedEx.
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