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"Facebook and American Express's small business division, American Express Open, are teaming up to give five companies a Facebook makeover and $20,000 to grow their businesses.\nThe contest is part of American Express Open's Small Business Saturday initiative, which encourages shoppers to support small, independently owned businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Last year was its inaugural and largely successful year, which American Express is working to develop into an even larger movement across the U.S. this fall.\nMore than 11,000 small businesses entered the contest, from which 10 finalists, profiled in the gallery below, have been selected. Users can cast votes for their favorites from now until July 20 on Facebook.  The winners will then head to Facebook's headquarter's where they'll get advice from the company on how to best tailor their Page, Ads and social plugins.  \nThe partnership between the two makes sense given each company's aggressive focus on the small business market. Facebook has partnered with major companies on small business initiatives before, including a 2008 campaign with Visa that awarded $100 in Facebook credits to the first 20,000 business owners to sign up for Visa's Facebook application.  \nFacebook and AMEX also recently announced a deal that allows businesses to buy Facebook Credits to use on advertising through AMEX's membership rewards program.  \n\n\nWhich of These Small Businesses Deserves a Facebook Makeover?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Bandee - Weston, FL\nThe Bandee, which began as a class assignment, is a stylish hair band optimized for sports and outdoor activities.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBear Creek Tackle - Bend, OR\nBear Creek Tackle offers more than rods and reels. It's a complete online resource on how and where to fish, educating anglers at all levels.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBig Daddy's Bar-B-Que - Gary, IN\nBig Daddy's Bar-B-Que started out selling barbeque at a flea market and evolved into a full-fledged restaurant dedicated to giving back to its community.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDistinctive Gardens Inc. - Dixon, IL\nDistinctive Gardens Inc. is not a typical nursery. It's a garden center that unites those passionate about plants, gardening and community.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFat Brain Toys - Elkhorn, NE\nFat Brain Toys is a wholesale toy company that creates toys, games and gifts designed to challenge children while they play.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHOPELights - Plano, TX\nHOPELights prints customized magazines for kids with special needs and develops communities for their families. The goal is to build confidence in young readers by making complex messages simpler.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nModmarket - Boulder, CO\nModmarket makes fast food that's good for you. They serve up sustainable grub from local growers that's healthy, delicious and affordable.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nParkwhiz.com - Chicago, IL\nParkWhiz.com takes the hassle out of parking at sporting events, theater, concerts and more. Drivers reserve hard-to-get spaces online, and save time to enjoy their experience.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpoonflower - Durham, NC\nSpoonflower is a far-from-average online fabric store. Customers can design, print and sell their own designs to create truly unique quilts, blankets, toys, clothes and more.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nViesso - Santa Monica, CA\nViesso is a modern, eco-conscious furniture company that allows you to customize one-of-a-kind furniture both online and in store.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDisclosure: American Express is a Mashable advertiser."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2011/07/05/amex-facebook-makeover/>