Saving Grace Enterprises is pleased to announce that we were named a finalist for the Idea Cafe Small Business “Al Marks Inventive Mind Grant”. There were 762 applicants who were narrowed down to 128 (for the semi finals), which was further narrowed to a field of 40, and we are pleased and excited to share that we have been named as one of the finalists (look for our founder’s name, Dee Phipps, on the list).

Here’s what happens next…

Idea Cafe is opening up the selection of the one winner to the vote of Idea Cafe’s entire audience (and the world, if they wish to show up and vote).

In addition to the votes we will get from Idea Cafe’s current audience, Dee & Saving Grace Enterprises is inviting our friends, family, clients and customers to support our chance of winning the $1,000.00. Simply go to the Al Marks’ inventive mind small business grant finalists page, click on the link to cast your vote, and vote for “Dee Phipps” (our founder).

Please note that voting on the grant winner is a privilege reserved for registered Idea Cafe Regulars. But if anyone who wants to vote is not already a Regular, they can quickly sign up at the “voting booth” so they can access it through Idea Cafe’s “Members’ Door”. There is no charge to sign up as an Idea Cafe regular and it just means you will get special privileges (such as being able to vote for Dee & Saving Grace Enterprises), plus receive Idea Cafe’s “Biz Tips” newsletter twice a month. You can get off the list at any time, but we are asking that you do not do so immediately so that your vote will be sure to count.

Idea Cafe is accepting votes from now until midnight Pacific Time, Saturday, August 11, 2007. Within the next days after that, they will tally the votes and announce the grant winner. The winner will be determined by the number of votes cast by Idea Cafe’s regulars (remember if you are not a regular, you can sign up to be a regular at no charge, and have the privilege of voting!) and announced online on August 15, 2007, Idea Cafe’s 12th anniversary online.

Learn more about the Al Mark’s Inventive Mind Grant by visiting the small business grant center at Idea Cafe. And, please make sure to vote for our founder, Dee Phipps, before Saturday, August 11, 2007 at midnight, Pacific.