  We are conducting a search for supermassive black holes (SMBHs) with masses
below 10^7 M_sun by looking for signs of extremely low-level nuclear activity
in nearby galaxies that are not known to be AGNs. Our survey has the following
characteristics: (a) X-ray selection using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, since
x-rays are a ubiquitous feature of AGNs; (b) Emphasis on late-type spiral and
dwarf galaxies, as the galaxies most likely to have low-mass SMBHs; (c) Use of
multiwavelength data to verify the source is an AGN; and (d) Use of the highest
angular resolution available for observations in x-rays and other bands, to
separate nuclear from off-nuclear sources and to minimize contamination by host
galaxy light. Here we show the feasibility of this technique to find AGNs by
applying it to six nearby, face-on spiral galaxies (NGC 3169, NGC 3184, NGC
4102, NGC 4647, NGC 4713, NGC 5457) for which data already exist in the Chandra
archive. All six show nuclear x-ray sources. The data as they exist at present
are ambiguous regarding the nature of the nuclear x-ray sources in NGC 4713 and
NGC 4647. We conclude, in accord with previous studies, that NGC 3169 and NGC
4102 are almost certainly AGNs. Most interestingly, a strong argument can be
made that NGC 3184 and NGC 5457, both of type Scd, host AGNs.
