Votes needed for prospective grant recipient

East County resident Cheryl Brady is hoping to get a $250,000 grant to help expand her expand services within the community and needs your vote to help secure funding.

Brady, founder of Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance, an ambulance service that transports pets in the Sarasota and Manatee county areas, needs 250 votes on Facebook to get her application reviewed by a panel for Chase Bank and LivingSocial's "Mission: Small Business" Program, which is awarding 12 $250,000 grant. The panel is looking for businesses that have had a positive impact on their community and meet an unfilled need, among other criteria.

Supporters can go to vote for Brady's business on www.missionsmallbusiness.com.

Voting deadline is June 30.

Vet Care Express has tripled its call volume and revenues in its first 18 months of service. The business offers emergency and non-emergency ambulance service for pets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].