Government business grants

Many articles and websites have been devoted to Government Grants and various federal and state programs where money awarded does not have to be repaid. Sounds perfect, but there is still one question: if the money is free how come not all the money is awarded, and the government ends up with funds being unclaimed at the end of the year in some of their grant programs?

It seems there is only one answer to the question above. People do not know how to take advantage of the grants. They do not know how to discover and apply for them. That is the very reason why this article came about.

When we hear that our government is giving something away, we assume it is free. The assumption is incorrect. Our government does not have its own money, but rather it collects US dollars by taxing the society. This means the money behind government grants is ours and it is not really free. The good news is we can try to take it back in form of grants as we have every right to apply for our own money. This is the best shot hard working individuals have to regain taxed dollars.

At this point you are wondering how to take my money back. Well it is simple. All you need is a passion. In case you do not have a passion, try to come up with something that could interest you in the near future.
Now you are saying “Great, every marketing book starts with stuff related to passion and slogans like that.” Do not be so negative, government grant opportunities are design for specific professions. This means you must have a specific field you like, and you will be useful to the government performing tasks in that particular profession. Below we will list and talk about all the grant categories, and you will be able to see there is something for everyone.

Before we jump into the grants, let us have few words explaining how grants work. Grants are awarded based on eligibility and fund availability. They do not have to be repaid and long as the applicant remains eligible. Knowing this one can safely assume government grants mostly work on first come first serve bases.

State and federal government agencies give grants to individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, as well as other government agencies. All these applicants will have to go through the same application process. First you must find the grants. One you find the grants you are interested in you have to fill out and submit your grant application. The applications and directions can be downloaded from the government website which is a central for government grants. Every grant program has a deadline, so must submit your paperwork on time. Once you are approved for a grant program the government will deposit money into your bank account in most of the cases. Next a program officer will be assigned to whom you will report and direct any questions during the program. This is how grants work.

Now you have a great understanding how federal grants and state grants work, let us see what is available to us. Following are the major grant categories: Agriculture, Arts, Business and Commerce, Community Development, Consumer Protection, Disaster Prevention and Relief, Education, Employment, Labor and Training, Energy, Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health, Housing, Humanities, Income Security, Social Services, Information, Statistics, Law, Justice, Legal Services, Natural Resources, Recovery Act, Regional Development, Science, Technology, Research and Development, and Transportation. Not enough? There are Other Grants as well.

The list of grant categories is overwhelming, so let us select few major categories and describe them. Some of the most common are: Education Grants, Housing Grants, Business Grants, and Medical Grants

Education Grants

Grant Budget is $100 billion. Education grants are one of the favorites when it comes to Financial Aid. In most of the time these awards do not have to be repaid. They should be your first method of financing your education. These grants are provided by the governments to help the youth with tuition payments and other expenses. Some of the famous college grants include: National SMART Grant, TEACH Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, and Pell Grants. Education grants exist for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Housing Grants

Grant Budget is $42 billion. These grants are targeted at new or current homeowners who are purchasing a new home, renovating their current one, or investing in the real estate market in general. This program is very broad as the grant award can range from $500 to $5,000,000. Housing grants do not have to be repaid which makes them very popular. These grants cover most types of real estate. This is the very grant category which goes unclaimed every year. American citizens are simply not aware of this program. Anyone can quality for this type of program. If you are an investor, community project planner, or a US tax-paying citizen you can and you should apply.

Business Grants

Grant Budget is $34 billion. The idea behind business grants is to promote the launch of small businesses. The government believes small business helps to create jobs and boost local economies. Instead of taking out business loans, companies can apply for business grants and receive funding that does not require reimbursement. Businesses located in areas of poor economic standing have a high chance of success with this grant application. When applying for business grants, new entrepreneurs can expect to be required to submit a business plan that highlights the company goals, mission, services and products, target market and more. A very smart business plan could be your ticket to successfully landing your business government grant.

Medical/Health Grants

Grant Budget is $260 billion. Medical grants are very popular these days. These grants exist for nearly every type of medical problem. Those citizens who have problems with paying medical bills can apply for medical grants. The medical grant provides accessible insurance to low-income families. Both Medicaid and Medicare are part of the governments medical grant programs, which help ensure that all American people have access to health coverage. If you are studying to become a doctor, or collecting medical research, you could qualify for medical research grants or scholarships. These grants do not have to be repaid.

Who is Eligible

The following groups are eligible for government grants: Government Organizations, Education Organizations, Public Housing Organizations, For-Profit Organizations, Small Businesses, Individuals. Green card holders are eligible for government grants. In case you need more information on eligibility please look up Eligibility Tutorial.

How to Apply

Visit the US Government portal for all government grants. In order to apply for a grant, you and/or your organization must complete the registration process. Registration can take between three-five business days or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner. Register for grant opportunities now. Visit their portal and following the following steps:

1. Download a Grant Application Package
2. Complete the Grant Application Package Step
3. Submit the Completed Grant Application Package
4. Track the Status of a Submitted Grant Application Package

Where to Apply

Below are full contact details for US Government Grants Programs:

Phone: 1-800-518-4726
U.S. Postal Service Mail Address:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201

Economic Times and Grants

Living through and starting a business in a recession has its pluses. More government aid is added for students and new business as money is invested into the future. This means right now its a perfect time to start a new business or go to college. Average grant award per student was $2,278 in 2009 with a max award being $5,350. $5,350 per year is a great sum of money for college. Most of college grants do not have to be repaid therefore making this the perfect grant to apply for if you are planning to go to college.

To Sum it All Up

Government grants exist that could help you sponsor your venture. The success of this venture is within your own hands. Find something that interests you and apply for free government grants as you have nothing to lose. Remember, those who are not afraid will be the builders of tomorrow.

By: Andy Word

There’s a type of government business loans that small business owners and entrepreneurs can receive that provide free money that never has to be paid back. While there are outstanding loan programs that will offer low interest rates, small business grants give the money you need to you with no expectation that you will ever repay.

The difference is that a government business loan can provide you with all of the money you need to start up or expand your business. Small business grants from the government, on the other hand, tend to be given away for $20,000 – $50,000. Chances are when you obtain government grants for small businesses, you’ll also need to find additional financing to reach your financial needs.

As long as you use this money for the purpose outlined in your small business grant application, this alternative to the government business loan will never have to be paid back. That doesn’t mean that they come with hefty restrictions either. You can often use this money to buy new equipment, purchase office furniture, hire employees and make payroll, and to lease or purchase office space. If you source your products internationally, you can even obtain small business grants that will pay for those materials and products.

There are numerous grant programs that you can apply for, regardless if you are just in the planning stage of starting your business or are looking to expand. While these alternatives to government business loans are available for any American citizen over 18 years old to apply for, you may be surprised to see that there are also hundreds of private foundation grants that will provide you with the financing you need as well.

By: Melissa Sabella

Getting a government grant can be a tricky business, especially if you don’t know how to go about it. Billions of dollars are given away each year to businesses, home owners and people in the educational field. People starting small business is good for the economy so the government is willing to put a lot of money in to help you.

Even though the amount of money being given away for grants is a lot. The amount of people after them is even more. So you need to know the best way to apply. This can hugely increase your chances of obtaining the money you need. If you run a non-profit organization then your chances are already more than most but even if you just need money to improve your home there are ways of getting it.

So what is the first step? What is the best way to apply for free government grants? You need a precise plan of what you want to do, well organized and ready to be presented to someone if required. There is a lot of help around to do this. Specialists that work on getting grants for a living are available to help you but this can often be expensive. You need to do your research on exactly what to do for your area. This obviously differs, whether you are an educational organization or a failing company. But there are precise routes you can go down for your specific needs.

The internet is a hive of useful information as we all know and there are sites that help you with step by step plans and tutorials for writing your grant applications. They tell you exactly where to go and which manner to apply and although some of the sites charge for there help, they offer a money back guarantee if you don’t succeed in getting your grant.

By: Lewis Waller

Being a single mother at a very young age can be difficult. Not only will you need to worry about the welfare of your child, you also have to worry about continuing your education. So how can a single mother at age of eighteen afford to go to college and take care of her child at the same time? Fortunately, the government can provide you with a financial aid to ease the burden for you.

Financial aid

There are many types of financial aids that can help a single mother continue her academic pursuits. In order to get these grants, you need to fill out a form from the Free Application For Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. The application process will take around three days to a week, but once you have completed the requirements, you will be able to start college right away. The requirements for applying for this program include:

? being a valid citizen of the United States

? social security number

? a high school diploma or a general education development certificate or pass and approved ability-to-benefit test

? be enrolled or accepted as a regular student working to attain a specific degree.

Aside from these requirements, your eligibility for financial aids also depends on the income tax of your parents or dependents. So if you are a single teenage mother but your family is well-off, then your application for these aids may be denied by the federal government. The amount of funds that the government will provide you will also depend on your income tax. So the single moms with a high income tax who are accepted in the program may be funded a lesser amount of money. Once you have been accepted, you will also need to keep a certain grade point average in order to maintain your aid.

By: Eric Morris

Have you considered government business grants for you start up capital?

A lot of people have great ideas for businesses, but no capital to start with. No matter what business you start, it takes at least a little seed money. You can get a bank loan, a home equity loan, or borrow from friends. A lot of entrepreneurs have less than the best credit (it’s in the nature of a risk taker). You might not own a home, or if you do you might not want to put more debt on it, especially right now. Also, your friends might not have the kind of money you need. Does that mean you just roll over and quit? No!

Another great source of money is grants from government and private institutions. Money from both of these can be used to start a business. It gets even better if you are a woman or a minority, or both.

You do not have to pay back grants, while you do have to pay back loans, or if you are borrowing from a friend, at least give them some equity. Looked at like this, grants might not be your last resort, but your first.

How easy is it to get grants? Well, it is not that easy. But then starting a business and surviving is not easy either. If it is easy you are looking after, you might as well pack up and go home. Entrepreneurship is not for the feint of heart.

The fact that grant money is free makes grants very competitive. That also makes them worth going after.

There will be a world of paperwork to fill out and hoops to jump through. But there are a ton of resources on the Internet to help you through all of this. Two resources I really like are The Foundation Center, a non-profit which is the nation’s leading authority on philanthropy, and a federal website called Grants.gov, which has over a thousand grants listed, along with lots of other information.

You can find other resources at my website.

By: Lee Cole

Those who are tired of working for someone else and desire the freedom and independence of self employment should look to free start up grants from the United States government as a means to establish their own new businesses. There are billions of dollars in free unclaimed money available to American taxpayers who wish to establish small businesses.

What are start up grants?

What this term refers to is the government small business grant program that caters specifically to new up and coming companies or businesses that are in need of considerable funding to afford all of the start up costs associated with establishing a new business. This is virtually free government money that is allocated to qualified applicants to assist in financing their new and enterprising new businesses.

How much free government money can you acquire to start your business?

While this varies dramatically, and entirely depends upon individual need, desire, and eligibility requirements, sometimes, most often times actually, a single individual may be able to acquire enough free government money through this program to fully finance any and all expenses that go along with opening a new and enterprising small business. Everything from a newly leased office space, computers, fax machines, and major equipment, to paperclips, legal pads and ballpoint pens can be paid for in full with small business grant money.

No matter how much free money you receive you will never have to pay it back…

Since all government grant programs are free, you will never have to pay this generous funding back. In as little as just a few weeks, you may be well on your way to a grand opening celebration of the new business that your have opened with free government money. Shouldn’t you be searching for your free start up grant money today?

By: Sarah Beckham

Are you a talented musician who is struggling to get your career up and running? If your gigs aren’t paying you well enough, there may be a small business grant that you can apply to promoting your musical endeavors, while turning a profit at the same time.

Just because music is an art, and often considered a hobby, it doesn’t mean you cannot create a business situation to enhance your talents. In fact, if you apply the average business strategy to music promotion, there is no reason why you can’t make a bundle before you get that lucky break.

All musicians and promoters know that it cost a lot of money just to support your artistic projects. You are looking at expenses such as travel, rehearsal space rental, musical gear and equipment, production costs, recording costs, advertising, and everything else associated with the production and promotion of your art. If you are a crafty and resourceful individual, as most starving artists are, you may be able to easily maneuver yourself a whole lot of free government money if you can assemble a good enough business plan to qualify for free small business grants from the United States government.

When you step outside of the box and look at the big picture, if you are a professional musician, you know that you are already treating this creative goal as a business. All you really need to do is form a detailed outline of how you believe you can strategically turn this talent into a profit generating business, in order to be reviewed by a grant award committee. If you are creative enough to come up with a halfway decent grant proposal, you may be able to receive enough free government money in small business grants to get your creative project boldly into the public eye.

Imagine what you could accomplish if you were able to obtain a few thousand dollars to pay your studio rent, afford recording time and engineers, buy new and updated musical or recording gear, pay for a major advertising campaign, or produce a new CD or video. You may be able to achieve all of this using free government money if you are found to eligible to receive free small business grants from the United States government.

By: Sarah Beckham

Government grants for women aren’t hard to come by if you know what to do to get them. Experts in the field would agree on the financial point that creating your start up business using grant money is one of the most ideal situations you can find yourself in. This is accentuated by the movement toward granting grants to those who contribute to the economy while starting their own small businesses. People who qualify for business grants can get them through the federal government. Loans differ from grants because loans need to be paid back while government grants for women don’t.

Choosing Between A Business Loan Or Business Grant

Another differing point about grants is that they don’t specify credit checks, collateral, security deposits or co-signers. Most of the time what IS required from you is to send them periodic progress reports which will inform them on the progress of your specified goals as found in your application. This is to make sure funds are being used as previously specified. Look into the links presented in the resource box if you want more information on this.

A Look At Business Grants For Women

Woman can run a home-based business or a business outside of the home by using business grants. This includes but not limited to:

1) Start a new or expand an existing business.

2) Equipment financing.

3) Acquisition of a new or existing business.

4) Office Rent.

5) Salaries and related expenses.

6) Office expenses and overhead.

These are generally given to small business owners who are women to promote and encourage business growth. You are eligible for a grant if you are at least 18 years old.

The Use Of Governments Grants

A grant is one way to support a business idea and turn the dreams of an entrepreneur into reality. A list of government grant types offered are the following:

1) Individual grants for personal necessities.

2) Business grants for starting a new business.

3) Housing grants.

4) Education grants.

This is just a small sample of the type of grants available. Consult the resource box at the end of this article for more information.

Women And Business Grants

One great reason to qualify for a grant would be attending business school. Existing businesses can be purchased by women using the right grant. Finally, excelling in your respective field is another great way to qualify. all the while keeping the fact that business grant money does NOT have to be repaid to the funding agency or the government.

Government Grants for Women

Studies have shown that up to seventy five percent of women small business owners tend to be successful. Add that to the fact that as a group when applying for government grants women have the biggest advantage. In fact specifically earmarked for women are several business grant types. Small business grant funding does come with some limitations that have not been discussed here. For a lot more information on this and grants in whole see the resource box. Just remember you may have to go in front of a foundation or a governing council’s grant board to get your funding. Small price to pay for your self employment isn’t it? When are you going to get started?

By: James Redder

The American economy thrives off the success of small businesses, which is why government grants for small businesses are available to entrepreneurs. Small business owners take on a tremendous amount of risk, and without this assistance, the entire economic system would collapse.

While the number of new start-up businesses continue to grow year after year, more and more of them also continue to fail. Unfortunately businesses typically fail not because of lack of planning or customers, but because they simply run out of money.

The federal government provides assistance to help business get off the ground running and to flourish. Government grants are available to help finance start up costs and to help established businesses grow. Whether you need help renting an office, buying new furniture, or making payroll, the federal government is willing to make an investment in you and your business.

This is a different kind of investment than a small business loan. The government earns it’s money back by helping you succeed. When your business grows, it creates new jobs, encourages competition, and gets people to spend money on your products and services. As a result, that cash flows right back into the economic system to help America grow.

Unlike banks that expect you to immediately start making payments, with interest, government grants do not expect a penny in return. As long as you use the money for business purposes, you will never be asked to repay the money.

Since the government does not advertise, most people are only aware of bank or private lending options. Interestingly, finding and applying for these small business government grants is quite simple. Once you have access to the resources, receiving this money is as easy as dropping an application in the mail.

By: Austin Warty

Minority Americans of any race or heritage that have an interest in earning a living while encouraging your ethnic group to embrace their heritage should explore minority business grants to achieve their goals. While most Americans are aware that this generous government funding is made available to minority Americans who desire to accomplish big business investment goals, or aid to non for profit organizations, what few are aware of is that free minority grants are acquirable to suit the purposes of the small ethnic business owner as well.

You do not necessarily have to be looking to construct a major housing development in an ethnic neighborhood, or rehabilitating a cultural history museum, or anything like that, to avail minority grant money. Even the simplest of ideas, that benefit no one but you, if you are a minority, can be found eligible to qualify for free government money in minority business grants. There are thousands upon thousands of free money opportunities that can be designed to suit your individual needs and desires. You just need to be creative.

Maybe, you are of Hispanic decent and are something of an amateur chef. It is quite possible that you may be eligible to receive enough free minority college grant money to attend culinary school, and then a minority business grant to open your own ethnic restaurant. Wherever you choose to establish your business, be it in an area that is culturally rich and welcomes your “little bit of home”, or you set up shop in a more integrated area where you are enlightening others of what your culture has to offer them, you may be able to get free government money to do it.

There are some really great hairstyles that African American women are sporting these days. Perhaps you are an American black woman who is fantastic with creative design and hairstyle techniques. You may be able to take that talent beyond braiding and perming your friend’s and family’s hair and start making money by opening your own salon. You can more than likely be approved to receive minority education grants to attend cosmetology school and a minority business grant to get that salon up and running.

Did you know that just being of the female persuasion would automatically qualify you to receive minority grant funds? Yes, women of any race, culture, or heritage are considered to be minority Americans and are eligible to apply for all minority grants, business or otherwise. Do you realize what millions of opportunities this opens up for the ladies? They can achieve free government money in minority business grants to do all the things that women love to do.

These days American women are using minority business grant funds to open day care centers, small boutiques, exercise clubs, restaurants and diners, catering companies, art galleries, aerobic studios, hair salons, gift and craft shops, eBay stores, and millions of other exciting and rewarding establishments.

No matter what your goals are, large or small, if you are a minority, there is probably a generous amount of free government money available to help get you started. Follow the links below and discover which minority category you fall into, and how many minority grants are waiting for you.

By: Sarah Beckham