Intuit extends small business hiring fund

5/18/2011

Financial management company Intuit has launched an extension of its popular Love a Local Business initiative, investing another $1 million into the program.

The Love a Local Business campaign gives small business owners the chance to win grants and commercial loans for the purpose of hiring new employees. To qualify, a company must encourage its fans to vote for it through Intuit's program system. The campaign has already awarded more than $500,000 to 100 different companies.

"People don't realize that a few thousand dollars can go a long way when you're a small business, working with a 'down to the penny' tight rope budget," said Shana Rawlings, Love a Local Business grant winner and owner of Harmony in Hooves Therapeutic Riding Center of Benton, Arkansas. "As little as $5,000 could mean the addition of a temporary part-time employee or consultant."

With the economy slowly beginning to normalize, many small businesses are looking to hire new staff to handle increased workloads.