Do you have a favorite local business? Showing it a little love could be worth $1,000 for its owner.

As part of its Love a Local Business Sweepstakes,

Intuit Inc. is asking Americans to enter their favorite local business into a drawing for a $1,000 Intuit Growth Grant. Winners receive a $500 Visa gift card and $500 in Intuit business services, such as Intuit Web sites and WebListings, to help them grow their business. The sweepstakes runs from July 20 to Aug. 30. Intuit will select 30 winners - five each week during the six-week sweepstakes.

Fans can nominate their favorite business at www.LoveALocalBusiness.com by sharing the reasons for their affection in a brief comment of 250 characters or less.

All nominees will appear in a customized

Google Map showing favorite businesses across the country. The "Love a Local Business" map is shareable, so fans can help their favorite business get even more nominations by posting it to their own blog or Web site.

"Strong local businesses help build strong communities," said Justin Kitch, chief growth officer of Intuit's Small Business Group. "We hope that these communities will rally together to not only help their favorite businesses win a growth grant, but to share with each other what makes these businesses special and unique." Full sweepstakes rules are available at www.LoveALocalBusiness.com.