How To Help Lacey's Elemen7ts Win A $50K Small Business Grant

Alyssa Schlueter founded Elemen7ts by NitroGirl to combine her passions for chemistry and food. The Lacey-based business joined the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, and residents can make sure the ice cream shop isn't left out in the cold.

The grant offers the opportunity for a small business to receive $50,000 if they win the grand prize. The silver prize earns $30,000, and eight bronze-prize winners receive $15,000 each.

You can vote here for Elemen7ts to receive the grant. The voting period began Feb. 27 and runs until April 1. FedEx will announce the top 100 on April 5 and the winner April 29.

Elemen7ts creates all their ice cream with liquid nitrogen, which Schlueter says is -321 degrees. She fell in love with chemistry at age 15 and later worked in science.

"My favorite thing to do was to make people happy!" she wrote on the FedEx contest page. "How could I do this w/ my degree & make a living? One day I took a chance, invested in equipment, & NitroGirl was born!"

Elemen7ts works to inspire kids to stay engaged in school and chase their dreams, while also offering them tasty desserts, Schlueter wrote.

Her business would use the grant to improve outdoor seating for nice weather and possibly develop a second location. They would also print updated brochures and marketing materials.

"Most importantly, we’d be able to hit the ground running on our "NitroFamily" campaign to unite our community as one," Schlueter wrote.

Click here to vote for Elemen7ts by NitroGirl.