Grant Money Still Available For Local Disaster Relief

There is still grant money available in the state of Iowa for victims of specific disaster areas! A committee is now accepting applications for their disaster grant program. These grant funds can not duplicate any other financial support, assistance, or grants provided by any other federal or state government, nonprofit agency, or faith-based agency.

The eligibility requirements for these grant funds include:

• being a FEMA registrant
  
  
• Residing in a specific county at time of the disaster after May 24, 2008 and before August 14, 2008
  
  
• Having unmet needs related to his/her disaster recovery. Reimbursement is only for certain expenses incurred due to disaster after May 24, 2008 and August 14, 2008
  
  
• Having a household income at or below 300% of the 2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines
  

Please remember that this is an income based program. Applicants need to be at or below 300% of poverty level.

If you have any questions, Please call the program's coordinator by phone.

State Financial Program To Help Ease The Financial Difficulties Of Deployment An all-volunteer nonprofit organization will be offering up to $5,000 in grants to families that can show they have taken a financial hit because of deployment. More than 200 families have already received money, which is gathered from businesses and fund-raising events throughout the state. The organization's 30 volunteers have already raised $1.3 million and allocated $600,000. The grants offer help to family members who have a lot more than money on their minds. Although some military organizations have many resources for the soldiers and their families, sometimes its hands are tied when it comes to financial assistance. For example, a survey found that roughly 20 percent of National Guard families find themselves in financial trouble because of a deployment. The survey was conducted before the recession started. These grants can fund anything from home and auto repairs to child care and car payments. The most common applications are for rent and mortgage payments. Two types of grants are awarded. Family Grants - The maximum family grant is $5,000. Every grant application has to go through the grant committee. It is estimated that 90 percent of the applications are approved. The organization pays the bill directly to whomever it is owed, usually within about a week. Business Grants - The maximum business grant $10,000. The business grant is designed for soldiers who own businesses and come home to find they were badly managed. So far about a dozen of these grants have been given out. So far about 20 applications have been received in the last two weeks. According to a spokesperson for the program, "There's a lot of people who came back and don't have jobs now," he said. "People are coming back, and they had a salary when they are in uniform. Now they're out looking for a job." Under a federal law, returning service members are entitled to their old job back. If the job itself has been eliminated, however, the service member must look elsewhere for employment. Members of the organization say they don't expect to run out of grants, but if they do, there's always more fundraising. "If it's not there, then we're going to go back to the communities and say, 'Hey, look, you know what? We have all these grants coming in and we need your help. People don't even hesitate." The organization's fund-raising events include spaghetti dinners, pancake breakfasts, dinner-dances which are always well attended because people are so willing to give. A range of businesses have helped out, donating food and drinks for the organization's events. Community groups have also helped out as well.

Another Way

That Your

Business

Can Get

Government

Money Is.......

Another way that your business may be able to get government money is by your business becoming a contractor for the government.

With all the stimulus money that is out there your business can take advantage of it by becoming a contractor for the government. What is this? Basically what it means is that the government becomes your client.

For instance AT & T has has earned Millions of Dollars simply by being a contractor for the government by provide services and products to the government for government use! While AT & T can't go after stimulus funds directly, their clients include many government agencies that are on the receiving end of those funds. And that puts AT&T in a strong position. (And it can put your own business in the same position as well!) According to an AT & T spokesperson, "We have full teams, assigned to every agency in the federal government, who try to better understand the nuances of every agency's mission and what they need. On a weekly basis, we'll say, 'Here's another idea about how you may want to do something.'"


Now you may think that this kind of thing only applies to big companies but it does not! The government needs everything from consultants to food services and everything in between!

You could take a lesson from AT & T as to how they go about getting their government contracts! The company said the process is identical to how it goes about hunting for other government contracts, which AT&T said is a roughly a $65 billion business for tech firms annually. Sometimes agencies give projects a direct go-ahead, but more often they request formal proposals so projects can be opened up for broader bidding.

AT&T's first stimulus-related contract came about through a prior relationship with a client: $419,000 to upgrade circuits in several Social Security Administration offices across the country. It's small relative to the $14.3 billion in stimulus funds already awarded to companies. But the vast majority of stimulus projects (more than $250 billion worth) have yet to be funded, and when the money begins to flow faster, AT&T will be well-positioned to be a part of bigger contracts. The company is also a good candidate help hospitals integrate electronic health records, which is being funded with $20 billion of stimulus money. AT&T has already signed a contract with the state of Tennessee to custom build a virtual private network for e-health information exchange. AT&T is also working hard to get involved with broadband services in rural America, smart grid wiring, and other health IT programs.

(To see my other blog posts relating to more information about the grants relating to providing broadband services just click here.)

Analysts say big firms like AT&T are more likely to get stimulus funds than smaller competitors, as they have the resources to quickly act on a wide array projects and have the infrastructure to bid on a large number of contracts. Experience counts. AT&T has been working on government projects for years, and at one time, it was the only game in town. AT&T was a monopoly until the mid 1980s. In fact, it wasn't until 1989 that the government opened up its first telecom contract to a company other than AT&T, when 40% of the government's communications contracts were awarded to rival Sprint (S, Fortune 500), giving "just" 60% to AT&T. AT&T struggled through the 1990s. And when those big federal telecom contracts were up for renewal 10 years ago, the company was completely left out for the first time ever. But since then, AT&T has clawed its way back to the lucrative federal sphere, gaining scores of federal networking contracts with 20 different agencies when they were again up for renewal in 2006. The company said those contracts are worth more than $1 billion, with the first three alone worth $700 million.

Are You An Artist That Was Effected By Hurricane Katrina?

There have been a number of artists who have been able to continue their work with the help of some financial grant programs available for those artists who have been affected by hurrincane Katrina.

For instance one artist whose home was destroyed because of Katrina was able to escape the wreckage and continue to work because an art organization offered him a two-month residency that included a stipend, room and board, and studio space.

There is another arts organization that has established a fund to help artists living in the hurricane-damaged area, and the one university in Baton Rouge, collected art supplies for artist-evacuees. A New York City-based foundation has paid at least $450,000 in grants to more than 80 artists affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Every time a disaster happens, the process of creating or reviving relief funds starts again. One Recovery Fund, created by a New York Foundation has distributed $4,635,000 to organizations and individuals in New York City after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. There is a Washington, DC-based organization that has established an emergency relief fund which has given over $100,000 to different art organizations located in the Gulf Coast region. Over $400,000 has been provided to individual artists!

There is also an emergency relief fund for "Crafters" which has spearheaded the coalition, distributed between $200,000 and $300,000 to Gulf Coast craftspeople after Katrina. Additionally, the organization brokered free and discounted supplies and equipment, free booth space at craft shows, and free workshops for artisans in the region.

State unemployment insurance agencies provide disaster unemployment aid to the self-employed but only when future income is predictable.

Disaster Loans That Are Forgivable?

Dear sirs:

I obtained an sba disaster loan in 2002. Is there a possibility that the loan can be forgiven in five years. There is a rumor going around that it can happen. Is it true?

Thank you

Well I guess my blog (and my website about grants look more professional than I thought! I'm certainly not a "Sir"

Thank you for your email. However the problem with your email is that you don't say what kind of loan it is that you obtained. The SBA has specific titles/names/reference numbers of all of their loan programs and that information you did not provide.

There are forgivable loans that become forgiveable in 3 - 5 years regarding disaster loans but a lot of them require that you take an additional loan from the SBA. (Meaning that the "forgiveable" loan was provided by someone other than the SBA) So that leaves the question of whether or not your loan was only from the SBA or was it obtained from more than one entity.

There are lots of programs that offer forgivable loans. For instance:

Grant Funds, if available may be used to assist economic recovery by providing:

• Low-interest loans to businesses
  

• Revolving loan programs to help businesses reestablish themselves
  

• Forgivable loans over 3-5 years
  

• Commercial rehab assistance

However the above program is not from the SBA.

You also did not mention whether or not you received the loan for your personal residence or business. It does make a difference. You also didn't mention what area the loan was for. For example in Minnesota flood victims were eligable for forgivable loans ONLY if they applied for additional funding from both FEMA and the SBA. If you did not qualify for the FEMA or SBA loans THEN you could apply for the forgivable loan elsewhere. Flood victims qualified for up to $23,000 in forgivable loans!

So unfortunately you have just not given me enough information.

Flood Victims Eligible For Government Assistance

Those affected by the Northwood tornado in North Dakota are eligible for financial assistance. If you have been affected you can contact FEMA via their website or by calling them via their toll-free number.

Financial Assistance can include:

• Medical, dental and funeral expenses
  
  
• funding for repairs to homes damaged by the flood
  
  
• Personal property
  
  
• Transportation
  
  
• and other expenses

Other Individual Assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will also be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance. Grants do not have to be repaid, but loans from the SBA must be repaid.

You should apply for assistance even if you have insurance, because you may find you are under-insured or have unmet needs after your insurance settlement. If you have not already contacted your insurance agent to file a claim, please do this as soon as possible. Failure to file a claim with your insurance company may affect your eligibility for assistance. Insurance is your main source for money to put your life back in order after a disaster. But there are many things that insurance does not cover, so disaster programs may be able to help.

Is Your Flood Area Eligible For A Federal Grant From FEMA?

Not Every Area Hit By Floods Will Get Grants?

I was very much surprised by the process that determines whether or not an area will get grant (as opposed to loan) help. For instance, in northern Virginia area residents sustained a lot of flood damage. FEMA denied them disaster assistance. Instead the SBA will spearhead a loan program for qualified residents at a lower interest rate. Number one I don't understand why its the SBA and not another agency that is handling this since it was always my thought that the SBA had to do with businesses and not personal residences. Number 2 I would love to know the reason why disaster assistance was denied for this particular area/region.

Of course when the residents heard of FEMA's decision they were outraged and they sent letters to that effect. It can take a lot of weeks before a decision is made as to whether or not an affected area will get disaster relief from FEMA. In the meantime the the residents still have to make a decision as to what they are going to do as far as repairing the damage to their residences. Some of them had no flood insurance which - of course - makes the whole situation worse for them.

So instead of grants, eligible residents can apply for loans at a rate as low as less than 3 percent interest. $200,000.00 is available for structural damage and $40,000.00 is available to replace personal property.

Again, I would love to know the reason why FEMA denied this assistance?

FEMA Doles Out $8.2 Million For New Hampshire Flood Grants

FEMA Doles Out $8.2 Million For New Hampshire Flood Grants.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports giving the most grants, more than $780,000 worth, to Salem residents since last week's application deadline.

Manchester received the second largest amount, more than $560,000 dollars.

The U.S. Small Business Administration reported awarding nearly 11.5 million in low interest loans to 415 New Hampshire individuals and businesses.

Doctors Can Now Receive Grant Money To Pay Their Student Loans!

Because of the devasting effects of Hurricane Katrina there has been a new incentive put in place to provide grant money for doctors who agree to work in area. Financial incentives up to $100,000 are being offered to doctors, dentists and other medical professionals to work in the New Orleans area after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. This grant program was also put in place to lure more medical professionals to the area because so many of them left to find good paying work elsewhere. These incentives include student loan repayments and guarentees of income for the medical professionals who agree to practice in the area.

So far over 80 medical professionals (including nurses) have been awarded the grants (again up to $100,000 per recipient) and the government has allocated a LOT more money to finance this incentive program!

If you are a health professional and are interested in this program you can find out more about this grant program by going to their website.

Kansas Counties Eligible For FEMA Grants

If you live in one of the specified counties in Kansas that were affected by the May 2007 storms FEMA is looking for you because you may be eligible for FEMA disaster-related grants.

These grants include grants to help individuals pay for temporary disaster housing needs, grants for essential repairs needed to restore residences, grants to repair or replace damaged property, and grants for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.