SmallBusinessNewz

Americans who are interested in taking their small businesses international may want to clear their schedule to prepare an essay or a videotaped pitch.  British Airways relaunched its Face-to-Face Program today in order to fly 250 entrepreneurs overseas.

Let's delve straight into the details.  In either 2-3 minutes or 300-500 words, British Airways wants would-be travelers to tell it "where you need to go internationally and how a face-to-face meeting there will help your business.  Also, don't forget to include at least one tip that you want to share with other small business owners."

Then a round of public voting will pick the top 400 candidates as entries are received between today and October 21st, and afterward, judges will further whittle down the group to the 250 winners.

A "Travel Grant Winner" determined by another round of public voting and judging will receive 10 additional free roundtrip flights and the opportunity to meet with a celebrity business panel, too.

This sounds like a very promising opportunity for small business owners looking to expand, and spending a little time on an essay or video doesn't represent a very big barrier to entry.

The one slight catch is that British Airways only intends to bring everyone into and out of America through JFK in New York, and winners will be on their own in terms of getting there (and leaving when it's all over).