Verizon Wireless announced that the entry period for the Third Annual Latino Small Business Awards presented to Latino professionals in Southern California will continue through September 30, 2011.
The award valued at over $70,000 will be given to three winners. The award, given in the form of cash or technology grants, helps spur technological advancement of Latino-owned firms, Verizon Wireless said.
Established entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and working professionals can nominate themselves or others for the award.
The three entry categories include: Outstanding Entrepreneur, Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur and Outstanding Business Professional.
Outstanding Entrepreneur recognizes established entrepreneurs whose businesses have been in business for over one year. Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur award is given for professionals planning to start their own businesses within the next five years, and Outstanding Business Professional is given for professionals who work for a small or large corporation and do not own their own businesses.
The winners of the Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur awards will each receive one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000– and $10,000 in cash.
The winner of the Outstanding Business Professional award will be given a $2,500 donation to a non-profit of his/her choice, one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000.
To be eligible for the award, applicants must explain how a Verizon Wireless grant will help change and expand their businesses. Verizon Wireless will then choose contest winners on October 10, 2011 and announce grant recipients on October 14, 2011 during an intimate awards ceremony.
As part of the Latino Small Business Awards contest, Verizon Wireless is also partnering with several Latino business events throughout Southern California.
Verizon recently also announced it is inviting public help in selecting the California nonprofits to receive more than $52,000 in 'Check Into Literacy' grants. The Check Into Literacy program offers grants totaling more than $52,000 to nonprofit literacy organizations in Verizon California's wireline territory.
This year, customers and members of the public will be able to vote for their favorite grant proposals through a new Vote for Literacy online campaign.
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Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for MobilityTechzone. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by
Rich Steeves 
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