Jovana is technical writer, editor and small business expert at Bizcloud. Bizcloud is a combination of site-blog, application and a service created to promote small businesses.
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Archive for Grants
Jan
25
What Should You Know About Grants for Small Businesses
Posted by: | CommentsIn this age of recession small business grants are required and needed more than ever.
The U.S. federal, state and city financial institutions are offering very attempting and affordable grants to non profit organizations and small businesses. But, before you apply for this kind of program for your small business financing, you might need some extra information in order to spare some time and not get disappointed later on.
A federal grant is an award of financial assistance from a federal agency to a recipient to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States. That is not referred to the federal assistance or loans to individuals.
Keep in mind that grants from the federal government are mostly available to non-commercial organizations, non-profits organizations and educational institutions (e.g. education, medicine, scientific research…). Some of the federal grants are available for you but not directly- there are award grants that federal government provide to state and local governments in order to help them with economic development, and these are the grants you might be able to take advantage of in financing your small business.
State grants provide grants for expanding child care centers, developing marketing campaign for tourism or creating energy efficient technology. Often, these grants are not free money and need to be combined with loans or other financial sources.
Even though there are no direct grants for small business available from the federal government, many state development agencies offer direct small business grants and other types of small business assistance designed to help small companies owners to start and expand their business.
The federal government programs called small business grants don’t exist, but that doesn’t mean you should be discouraged. However U.S. Government agencies do award hundreds of millions dollars in grants for specific services, research and programs such as housing, transportation, energy, education etc. There are also some federal grants which target businesses owned and performed by women or minorities.
Grants.gov is official government website (and organization), where you can find all the information about this and see (and fill in) the application form. It was established as a governmental resource named the E-Grants Initiative, part of the President’s 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda to improve government services to the public.
They offer over 1,000 grant programs and provide access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. More than 1,000 grant programs are offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies, and these programs fall into 21 categories (agriculture, arts, business and commerce, community development, health, education, regional development etc), few of them are available to individuals and none of them are available for personal financial assistance.
Still, lately grants.gov programs had much success helping individuals. They have surpassed 300,000 submissions for fiscal year 2009. Submissions have grown by nearly 50 percent over fiscal year 2008. In fiscal year 2008 there were a total of 202,366 application submissions for the entire fiscal year. Much of the growth experienced this year may be attributed to the Recovery Act, which resulted in increased overall website traffic and application submissions.
Due to the rapid influx of traffic and subsequent strain placed on the system, many challenges were presented this year. Grants.gov however have maintained the single electronic entry-point for accessing grants from all 26 federal grant-making agencies, providing a unified and streamlined process for finding and applying for all federal grant opportunities.
For more info visit www.grants.gov
Jan
25
Government Grants – How to Find Free Government Grant Help
Posted by: | CommentsEven with the economy in the bad state that it’s in, Americans are constantly coming up with new business ideas that have the potential to do well and improve the quality of life for all involved. These budding entrepreneurs may really do all the necessary homework and look into things like market potential for the product or service, competitive research, acquiring the proper legal protection for their idea (such as patent or copyright filings) but most importantly, finding the money required to make their dreams become a reality.
Typically, the entrepreneur doesn’t have all the necessary start-up funds required to get their business idea launched on their own, which leads them to look for financial assistance. They usually discover when they prepare a detailed business plan, the costs involved in turning their good idea into a real business tend to be significantly more than they ever could have anticipated.
When all the usual sources of funds are exhausted ( such as a second mortgage on the family home, using up savings meant for retirement, borrowing from family and friends, etc.) the next step is to approach a bank with your business plan. You will find that banks are usually not interested in financing these enterprises without a ton of security, which usually means if you had this type of collateral, you would not need a loan in the first place. Especially in this market, interest rates and the ridiculous amount of bad loans already looming over each financial institution tend to make for low approval ratings
It is at this stage in the small business startup process that most will give up. Without help from the bank, how will they ever finance a small business venture?
The good news is that what people don’t realize is that both Federal and Provincial governments actually offer an excellent variety of either loans or, or depending upon the situation and/or business idea, Government Grants. The best part about these Government Grants is that they are NOT A LOAN. Meaning, you will never have to pay them off! Consider it the small business equivalent of a Government Bailout. They’re investing in the small businesses because they know that one day you might become a big business, at which point they’d benefit from the added taxes and jobs that your company would produce.
I think everyone knows government loans and grants do exist, the problem has always been where do you find information about them and how do you apply. The review website, Free Government Grants is the first complete and up to date source of this type of information. It is a comprehensive review site featuring articles on the various types of grants available from Personal Grants, Business Grants, Educational/College Grants and much more. It also has a large review section helping you wade through all the various options and services available for those seeking more information on how to apply to receive a Government Grant
Tom Conrad is a home finance guru, specializing in foreclosure and mortgage loan help. He writes a mortgage loan and foreclosure help blog at HomeFinanceJournal.com.
Jan
24
Small Business Grant Money – How to Find Free Government Grants to Finance Your Business
Posted by: | CommentsFinally decided to start your own company but having problems finding the necessary startup capital in order to get it running? Have no fear, the Government is here! Yes, I did just say The Government. The US Government offers free grants to small business owners as a way to help encourage growth and stability. While there are thousands of these offers available every year, very few are even applied for? Why is that? Because most people don’t even know they exist!
Every new entrepreneurs dreams to take his business to the Forbes 100 List but most of them fail to realize realistic goals. One of the largest contributing factors to this is a lack of startup capital or initial investment. Running your own business is expensive, something that is easy to miss-judge. For this reason, the Government offers free grants that are available to boost new business here in America.
So how can I get one of these small business grants? Simple, you need to search one of the many thousand offers available to find one that fits your needs and requirements. Some guidelines regarding that process as well as some tips on what to look for in a grant offer can be found at the Small Business Grant Money Guide. Once you’ve found the offer that fits your company you then need to submit a business plan/grant application.
Some important things to keep in mind when applying to offers:
1. Presentation of the business plan -
The first important step is the presentation. Any small business grant distributor will be interested primarily in how you tend to use the money if they give it to you, and also how you plan on using the funds to make a profit. The difference between a bank loan and a federal grant is you don’t have to show them how you’ll repay it (grants are cash gifts), which means you should focus on the ultimate goal of your business rather than the small steps you plan on taking to generate revenue along the way.
2. The message conveyed in the business plan –
The business plan is the cornerstone of any grant application This plan give a clear idea of your goals and vision as well as a rough timetable for accomplishing these goals. The potential in your business is shown in your business plan and it is the plan itself, which increases the confidence that the grant distributers will have in you.
3. The Eligibility for small business grants sanction -
Small business grants are readily extended to small business industries to help them grow, only if they have a potential.
Small business grants bodies have their own objectives and give grants money to those satisfying them in the best possible manner.
The location of the business is one big reason for sanction of small business grants. The government wants decentralization of industries in order to avoid migration toward cities. For example, you’d have an easier time securing a government small business grant if you planned on being headquartered in upstate New York rather than downtown New York City.
The Small Business Grant Money Guide provides detailed information on how to find and get a grant to help finance your small business.
Tom Conrad is no stranger to the world of corporate financing, having worked in the industry his whole life. His most recent work to help educate the general public about startup financing can be found on the Small Business Grant Money Guide.
Jan
23
How To Receive Government Grants For Senior Women in Business
Posted by: | CommentsThere are government grants which are specifically for senior women and if you have retired from your job, and don’t want to do another, you can apply for it. You will have to fill the needed paperwork and qualify for the senior women’s grant. Government feels that businesses started by senior individuals can improve the economy in their particular area. Even if you are a senior homemaker you can apply for it. You need a good business plan for applying to the senior women’s grant.
To get the government money for business you need to do a few things like:
• Fill all requirements
• Apply
• Do the required paperwork
If you qualify for the senior women’s grant there are some things which are needed which include:
• Get yourself organized
• Get your ID
• Get a business plan
• Get documents to prove your experience as well as requirement
You can file a good business plan with the help of several institutions like:
• Small business administration
• Economic development Association
• Others institutions
Make sure that some qualified person has seen your business plan before you make an application for a government award, funds or loan for senior women in business. The government likes to help people who have got knowledge with the experiences in life. If you have wanted a business and are a senior woman, retired or semi retired, you can improve your future with this money.
A homemaker also has a lot of life experience which the government considers important and you can also get a senior grant for women. You can get money in form of awards, funds, loans, and the low interest financing for senior women in business. The most important thing for applying for this money is your business plan.
Lastly if you would like to receive free government grant money then please click the link below:
Free Government Grant Money Tips
Jan
22
College is one of the toughest academic levels to obtain. Especially currently that recession has cut in government spending, increased tuition fees and caused inflation in nearly all products and services. When you think about the economic scenario a majority of students are in these days it’s actually quite amazing that as many people that go to college can afford it. The situation will be compounded if that person already has kids of his or her own. It can be more troublesome for them to earn degrees considering they’ll have low incomes, with children to feed and bills to pay, but you may be asking yourself “Where can I apply for free scholarships?”
What you need to try to to is look through accessible college scholarships and choose those that are designed to assist single parents in their efforts to travel back to school.
One thing you’ll be able to do is visit your local college campus and speak to a financial adviser concerning a list of grants and scholarships offered to you. College’s know how difficult it’s simply for the common student to pay for their education let alone the single parent, thus they provide totally different programs to help offset the cost of their education. These universities recognize that the financial help they can give their students can offer them a second chance at a brighter future for both them and their children starting with answering the question “Where can I apply for free scholarships?”.
Several completely different teams and organizations give money to struggling students. Even private and non-profit organizations perceive the challenges facing single mothers that are unable to get a college education. They, along with the govt. and colleges, give opportunity for parents to increase their job marketability.
Help is accessible for people who ask for it. Single parents, all you need to try to to is get online and begin looking for programs that can give you with help, fill out the suitable forms to get the process moving and just recognize that you will be accepted. Or you’ll be able to ask your local colleges or government for different styles of help when you go in and ask “Where can I apply for free scholarships?”. Start looking now and enroll in the next school year. Good luck to you!
Here is the best resource to learn where can I apply for free scholarship. Just click here to get your scholarships for moms. And if your interested in a scholarship for dads as well, simply click here.
Jan
22
The Way to Find Government Grants
Posted by: | Comments
Government grants are a significant way to fund nonprofit organizations, charities, and scholarships. They are gifts of money in response to a competitive application process which does not have to be repaid. This article will tell you how to find government grants for non-profit.
Foundation Center. The Foundation Center is an online resource that provides information for thousands of potential grants.
Federal Register. Federal Register is a searchable database of all federal grant announcements. The Grants website is a more user-friendly version of the Federal Register. Grants is also where you will register to submit federal online application for potential grant funding.
Local and regional foundations. An Internet search under “grants” and your location should produce several of the local foundations. Also, your state government may produce a guide of grant opportunities. Search their website for such a publication.
National organizations. Find the national organizations that are formed around your interests. Join them. Network with your colleagues to receive the insider information on funding opportunities and other extra essential bits of industry knowledge.
Books. Books about grant funding opportunities are available. Except for the great advice some of the articles may provide, the information in books can become outdated quickly. Also, most of the information in the books can be found online for free.
Online nonprofit newspapers. There are four major nonprofit newspapers and all of them can be found online: Chronicle of Philanthropy, NonProfit Times, Philanthropy Journal and Philanthropy News Network Online.
In a word, there are many ways to find and apply the government grants. If you try, you will get this grant finally.
Jan
21
Free Government Grants In The US
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are looking for a way to pay your way through your new business, your schooling, or the purchasing of a new home, chances are you might already be qualified for financial aid. The absolute best type of financial aid is a grant, because grants do not have to be repaid. One of the most important things you can do during your lifetime is take advantage of the social support systems that are there for you. It’s definitly worth looking into.
1. No Credit Checks
Government grants do not require a credit check, collateral or a security deposit. All you have to be is a US citizen or a certified landed immigrant. Free government grants are giving out over a million dollars everyday to people who are in need of money.
2. Low-Income Grants
If you don’t want to stray from the normal avenues for getting financial aid, you should definately consider a grant. Mostly low-income families are the ones provided with this grant. The grant can also be used in repairing a house, in renting, as payment for mortgage and monthly bills. Never be ashamed to admit you are in need of financial aid. If the government wants to give you free money, let them!
2. What Can You Spend It On?
– A new car – Groceries – Gas – Everyday living costs – Tuition fees – School supplies, books, etc – Medication – Etc
3. Small Business Grants
A person who wants to start a new business or is wishing to develop his or her existing business should immediately go to any government agencies that provide free grants. This may be unbelievable but it is true. People living in the United States of America are provided with the free government grants. There are an estimated eight million businesses in the United States. If each business will apply for an equal share, they would certainly get a grant that is 70,000 dollars or so.
4. How To Get A Grant
The first and most important step is to know how and where to apply. Only after you have made your application can you recieve funds. Remember the U.S government is literally giving away money. The advantages of this system are clear for those in need. Even if youre not the most needy person, go ahead and apply – grants do not have to be repaid so there is no risk involved. Why not give it a try? There’s nothing to lose, and tons to gain!
For more great grant related articles and resources check out http://superiorgrants.info
Jan
20
Government Grants and Grant Money Explodes for Business and College
Posted by: | CommentsGovernment grants are announced each year to release grant money for new projects. One of the newest business grants being funded is for projects that utilize or study the impact of digital technology, including those that deploy digital technologies. These Start-Up Grants can comprise up to $30,000 in outright funds.
Oh, you’ve heard government grants are only for non-profit organizations? Maybe you’ve been advised government grants are just hype and no funding is available to individuals or the small business. Don’t believe it!
Visual artist Nancy L. Purington, of Iowa City will use her 2007 funding to create and frame photographs and artwork in compositions inspired by the Mississippi River. Nancy received a grant of $6,500.
Okay, maybe a small grant of $6,500 won’t change your life, or expand the business you now own. There’s that belief you can’t get grant money needed to increase or start your business. Guess what? In May 2007, TechSolve, Inc. located in Ohio is a private company and they received a grant award of $1,464,470. This isn’t hype. Funding is documented online. TechSolve’s grant money award can be found on the US Department of Labor’s web site.
So now the question in your mind is how did they do it? That’s exactly what The Grant Authority book teaches you. This book was written for the business person, the college student, the self employed, and those with the desire to forge ahead to attain their greatest potential. The Grant Authority gives you leading edge knowledge. Below is a tiny example:
What grantors really want you to say in your grant proposal.
Online research tools to find potential grants that others do not find.
Learn to prepare and submit grant proposals online, a must for today’s grant writer.
Want to explode your bank account with free grant money? Then order GRANT AUTHORITY TODAY and begin writing your grant success story. The Grant Authority book is your valuable comprehensive training manual you need. Buy it now; do not wait, because government grants get snatched fast by those who know the secrets this book teaches you.
Ron Wainrib
Government Grants
Jan
18
Federal Grants for Small Business Start Ups
Posted by: | CommentsEvery year the United States government gives away billions of dollars in the form of grants. This money can be used for a number of things including paying for education costs, buying a home, paying down debt, and for the entrepreneur it is a great way to pay for the start up costs of a new business. The best part of getting federal grants for small business start ups is you don’t have to pay the money back.
Think about that if you seriously thinking about starting a small business. You don’t have to pay the money back. Now most entrepreneurs go a different route when it comes to financing their idea. They either go to the bank and take out a line of credit or loan, or they find investors who are willing to back their idea with investment capital. While this works starting a business owing money places that much more stress on the new business person.
Now if you’re the type of person who doesn’t want to start out with a load of debt hanging over your head then researching and applying for federal government grants can help free you of that burden.
There are many websites on the internet that provide information and resources to help you find the government business grant that works for your purposes. These websites make help expedite the process considerably by categorizing all the thousands grant options and the governmental agencies offering them.
This is important because each grant and granting agency will require different types of information on their application forms. Knowing this beforehand can make filling out the required paper work much easier and ensure that your application is complete. You will also want to try and find out how long the approval process is likely to take because patience is something that most likely will be required.
You may also want to employ the services of either an accountant or lawyer who is familiar with federal government grants. These professionals can help guide you through the process and ensure that your grant request is complete. One important item that most government agencies look for is a workable business plan that outlines how your new business idea will work and how you plan to grow it as time passes. Again, an accountant or lawyer can help with this as well.
Cash flow is a big deal for any entrepreneur who is trying to get a fledgling business off the ground. Owing money is one of the last things that anyone wants to worry about and federal grants for small business can be the perfect way to avoid that problem.
To learn more about finding and applying for federal grants for small business please click here.
Jan
16
Government Grants – a Guide to Obtain One
Posted by: | Comments
Basically, government grants are free money given to qualified civilians who need financial assistance to help in whatever particular situation. Government grants are not loans that have to be repaid but rather free money which is offered to anyone who tries to do something for the community or for any other purpose.
Government grants can be availed by the less fortunate people, middle class or even the rich and there are practically thousands of grants available. The government grants are not advertised by the government and so it is left to the eligible persons to do some research and find out the grants that they qualify for. The reality is that most of the grants go unused because people do not know that there exist such grants and lack information pertaining to them. It is real free money and the opportunity can be seized when it is available.
But there are some rules and norms to follow while receiving a government grant. First, a person has to qualify to get a grant and fill up the application with genuine information. If it is found that the details furnished are not true, then, the chances of receiving the grant are remote and further, legal action may be taken on the applicant.
After receiving the grant, the recipient has to follow the guidelines strictly provided by the government. There are various types of grants offered by the different departments of the federal government, ranging from scholarships and fellowships including grants for small business, artistic endeavors and many more.
The financial background of an individual is immaterial to qualify for government grants. Whether it is small business or large business or individuals just starting a business, can avail of government grants. Those who have poor credit history or have filed bankruptcy are not prevented from applying for government grants, which holds good for organizations too.
But all grants are not available all year round. When the government agency comes up with the funding of the grant, it announces to the federal register that the grant is available. Government grants strictly follow the rules and procedure to award grants for the needy and it cannot be speeded up by any single person and a person claiming so, is a fake. There are sites to get information on government grants that include both genuine and scam sites. So, the applicant has to differentiate between the two.
The government grants are non- taxable and do not require to submit any credit check, security deposit, co signers or a collateral. All that is required is that the applicant has to be a U.S citizen, above eighteen years of age and a tax payer. There is a time limit to the number of days the applications are received and grants awarded and even if the application is delayed by a single day, it is liable to be rejected and hence, it is wise to make use of the government grants promptly.
Visit http://www.freegrantguru.com to learn about different types of grants available and how to increase the chances of getting a financial aid sanctioned.