Intuit has narrowed down the applicants for its “Power to Get More Done” competition to 25 accounting and tax professionals from 19 states.

The finalists, including 12 businesses owned or co-owned by women, are each eligible to receive $10,000 in cash and up to $10,000 in Intuit products and services to help grow their practice or start a new one. Intuit will award grants totaling up to $200,000 to 10 professionals and firms in late June.

Within their applications, the finalists demonstrated a willingness to help their communities by offering financial training to students, minorities and small businesses, according to Intuit. In addition, many have performed volunteer work, promoting assistance to low-income families and working to increase financial literacy among high-school students.

The 25 finalists are:

Tamara Babcock (Mitchell, Ala.)
Rebecca Bambarger (Chino Hills, Calif)
Robert Beninger (Cocoa, Fla.)
Aliyah Bonaparte (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Darren Brady (Charlotte, N.C.)
Ramona Brookins (Orlando, Fla.)
Wendy Cumming (Soquel, Calif.)
Dirk Dixon (Clive, Iowa)
Gerri Harrison (Johnson City, N.Y.)
Anita Howell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
Daniel Kavanaugh (Pleasanton, Calif.)
Randall Kelly (Lewis, Kans.)
Reynaldo Lozano (Greeley, Colo.)
Amy Mezo (Jonesboro, Ill.)
John Pearson (Norwalk, Conn.)
David Pickett (Orrville, Ohio)
Nathan Rice (Williston, Vt.)
Renee Richard (Tucson, Ariz.)
Daniel Ruotolo (Mount Laurel, N.J.)
Susan Schutz (Glendale, Colo.)
Kevin Stith (Louisville, Ky.)
Marybea Varvel (Camino, Calif.)
Tammy Williams (Elkins, W.Va.)
Donna Wilson (Culver City, Calif.)
Robert Wright (Upper Marlboro, Md.)

Intuit launched the Power to Get More Done initiative earlier this year to help accounting professionals succeed in these uncertain economic times (see Intuit Offers $10,000 Grants to Accounting Firms). The grant competition was designed to help tax and accounting professionals either grow an existing firm or start a new one.

More than 700 entrants submitted high-level business plans that explained how they would use the money to expand their business while helping their community. A panel of accounting professionals, an Intuit executive and representatives from three co-sponsors judged the applications and selected the finalists. Co-sponsors include the National Society of Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the National Association of Tax Professionals.

In addition to the grant competition, the Power to Get More Done initiative offers accounting and tax professionals discounts that they can pass on to their small business clients to help them save time and money.