Some Facts About Getting Government Grants For "Going Green"

The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has made considerable amounts of funding available to businesses and individuals working on green and renewable energy projects.

But just how much of the $787 billion recovery package is dedicated to grants? And where can green entrepreneurs and small business owners find and apply for these federal stimulus funds?

Here are some key details on locating grant money for green projects and applying for funding.

According to one official website, $275 billion of total federal stimulus funding is designated for contracts, grants and loans.

To date, the government has awarded around $137 billion to businesses, organizations, education institutions and entrepreneurs focused on developing green collar jobs or conducting clean energy technology research.

One of the most valuable resources for finding and applying to federal stimulus grants is through the government grants website. This online directory features information on the government’s “26 grant-making agencies,” including those increasingly associated with the country’s green workforce, including: the Environmental Protection Agency (awards millions in environmental education and environmental justice grants); the Department of Labor (recently sponsored a nationwide four-grant competition for renewable energy projects); the Department of Agriculture (funded 69 initiatives to clean and improve the country’s water supply and ecosystems); the Department of Energy (provides renewable energy incentives across the country through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy).

source
Green Jobs Ready.com

Here Is A Grant Program For Your Small Business!

So many times you will read that there are no grants for for-profit businesses but here is yet another example of a "free money grant program for for-profit businesses!

Here is a new grant program that will be starting later next year!

Over $200 Million Dollars has been allocated for this new grant program!

What is this new grant program? Well I have said many times before that grant programs are created to bring awareness to a particular subject and this is a very good example of exactly that!

In order to bring awareness to living a more healthier lifestyle this particular grant program will provide cash grants to small businesses that provide some sort of wellness and / or prevention programs for their employees! These kinds of programs can include:

• nutrition
  
  
• smoking cessation
  
• physical fitness
  
• stress management

Companies with fewer than 100 employees qualify for the grants, which will be administered by the government, but only new wellness initiatives -- those launched after March 23, 2010, the date the heath reform bill was enacted -- are eligible.

Grant Program For Local Area Businesses

Owners of commercial properties may be able to get the exterior of their buildings revamped using a combination of government and private funding.

This grant program is being funded by the Department of Community and Economic Development and they will be contributing $30,000 in conjunction with another matching grant amount of $30,000.



In order to be eligible for the grants, property owners must contribute at least $5000 towards the revamping of their buildings.

ANOTHER Grant Program For Small Businesses!

Here is another example of "free money that our government is giving away!

Did you know that one area in California is using federal stimulus funds to give immediate aid to small-business owners. The $25 million program reimburses owners for 100 percent of the wages for certain new hires. So far, restaurants, cafes, delivery services and even law firms have hired nearly 1,800 people through this program! More than 800 businesses have signed up for the program, and the area is pushing to extend it beyond its expiration date in September!



*Also please be sure to visit my blog about unclaimed money called The Unclaimed Money Blog.

State Grant Program For For-Profit Businesses

Just to dispel those rumors that there are no grant programs for for-profit businesses.....

State grant funds are available to help manufacturers improve performance, stimulate growth and respond to new challenges as the economy recovers from the recession.

This grants program is targeted to small and mid-size manufacturers with less than 500 employees. Grants of $5,000 to $6,500 pay up to 50 percent of project costs. The remaining project costs are paid by the company.

Eligible projects are:

• Lean transformation: Up to $5,000 per company is available for projects which include a comprehensive assessment of a company’s operations, identification of key competitive priorities and an action plan to achieve them. This approach hopes to improve performance across all facets of the business enterprise and generates significant financial results.
  
  
• Grants up to $6,500 per company are available for small to mid-sized manufacturers to implement Eureka! Winning Ways, a nationally recognized and proven system that accelerates growth and generates ideas for new products and services.

A significant share of the funding already has been pledged for projects. Grantsare offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Project completion deadline is

Dec. 31, 2010.

Interested manufacturers can call using either the toll-free phone number or the local phone number.

Teachers Using Grant Money To Help Pay For School Projects More and more teachers are seeking grants from the educational foundations. For instance in one area the number of teachers who applied for a $1,200 grant is up about 30 percent, from 140 to 180. Teachers want the money to buy books, microscopes, education software, iPods and other classroom teaching aids that just can not be covered in the regular budget. One teacher spent about 60 hours last summer writing three grant proposals to start a fish farm and hydroponics garden in her classroom and learned how tough it is to get grants. She got two out of three grants that she applied for. One of the grant awards that she got was for $4,500 which allowed her to bring her classroom lessons to life for her students.

Grant Money Available

For Hurricane Katrina

HomeOwners!

There is still grant money available for homeowners.

State Offers Hundreds of Millions to Further Strengthen Homes Against Future Storm Damage!

Grant program offering up to $7,500 for Homeowner Applicants to Install Additional Safety Measures!

Thousands of Louisiana homeowners affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita can now apply for grant funds of up to $7,500 to take small-scale measures to protect their homes from loss in future storms, including installing roof-tie downs and storm shutters.

In the aftermath of the great damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, preventing future home damage and loss is one of Louisiana's top priorities, which is why grants are being offered to homeowner to help them to pay to install common sense protection like storm shutters.

According to one spokesperson there is already more than $800 Million Dollars available to help residents with their homes. The individual grants of up to $7,500 will help make homes even safer and stronger than they are now.

This grant program is being provided by FEMA. Beginning last month the state mailed forms to more than 100,000 applicants who selected to rebuild or repair their homes, requesting that they opt-in to program by March 10, 2010. Homeowners can also use this form to choose to participate in a program that offers eligible homeowners up to $100,000 to elevate their homes.
Homeowners will work with the program in order to receive funding.

Homeowners who need more information about this program should call this toll free number.

Because of FEMA regulations surrounding how these funds can be used and because these funds are offered as a reimbursement, homeowners should not install or start work on their homes until speaking with a representative from the program and to make sure that their home has been cleared by the program.

Homeowners who already completed repairs that they think are eligible for reimbursement should collect copies of receipts and invoices for the work, which will be necessary to move forward with the program.

The state will base individual grant awards on the type measure a homeowner takes. Because of federal law, the state also must ensure that it is paying homeowners for actual unmet needs and not duplicating a benefit already provided for the same purpose.

What qualifies as an acceptable measure?

Acceptable measures are small scale improvements homeowners can make to their properties to protect their investments in the event of future storms. Some examples of eligible work include:

• Strengthening doors
  
  
• Protecting windows, including by installing storm shutters
  
  
• Bolting roofs to walls and walls to foundations
  
  
• Elevating electrical panels or air conditioning units
  
  
• Raising washers, dryers, hot water heaters or furnaces
  
  
• Anchoring propane tanks or heating fuel tanks

Official representatives of the grant program can provide homeowners with more detailed information about eligible activities.

DEADLINES - Homeowners must notify the state of their interest in the program by March 10, 2010. To show interest, homeowners must return their forms to the state postmarked by March 10, 2010.

Homeowners who need information can call the program's hotline or contact the program by e-mail. Information is also available online at their website.

Government Grant Program Deadline Extended!

It’s not for as long a period as entrepreneurs around the country were hoping, but the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill reauthorizing the deadline date of one of their grant programs to October 31, 2009.

This particular grant program (along with their sister program) provides millions of dollars in grants — with awards reaching upwards of $750,000 to individual businesses meeting specific criteria — to technology start-up companies through a variety of federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services and NASA.

Grant Program Available For Nurses Who Want To Teach! Because there is a shortage of nursing teachers, more of them are sorely needed! Despite the economic downturn, record numbers of well qualified potential nursing students continue to be turned away or placed on long waiting lists, (in some cases several years in length), by traditional campus based nursing schools due to severe shortages of nurse educators. As has been reported for many months now, the nationwide deficit of nursing faculty has reached critical proportions as the current faculty workforce rapidly advances toward retirement and the pool of younger replacement faculty decreases. The shortage of nurse educators poses serious threat to national health care. The number of nursing graduates with bachelor’s and master’s degrees isn’t keeping up with soaring demand. Educators and health planners see the growing demand for nurses not only as a need for additional personnel but also for additional education, with more nurses prepared in baccalaureate programs that emphasize leadership, patient education, case management, and care across a variety of acute care and outpatient settings. For example, at one hospital the shortage of highly qualified nurses who teach is already so bad that it’s had two nurse educator positions open for two years, even at the largest hospital in a state with one of the nation’s worst unemployment rates. According to one spokesperson from the hospital, "It has an impact on care. It really does. It has an impact on how quickly we are able to advance and institute new programs. We absolutely struggle to find nurses with master’s degrees who are educated in teaching.” The looming nursing crisis could mean that the region has thousands fewer nurses than it needs by 2020, according to projections by health officials. Federal estimates have projected the nation will have 29 percent fewer nurses than it needs by 2020. The influx of baby boomers with complex health needs and an aging nursing population are exacerbating the problem. The average age of nurses is 49, while the average age of nursing faculty is 55. In one tri-state area, the more than 60 nursing schools can’t keep up with the demand. So because of this three states are banding together with the help of a $250,000 grant which, joined with grants from others, aims to increase the number of teachers, add training opportunities and provide incentives for nurses to want to pursue advanced degrees. One of the goals of the project is to encourage nurses who are interested in teaching to get their master’s or doctorates with scholarships. The grants can be used for anything related to their education, including child care or transportation, as long as the recipient agrees to a year of teaching for each year of funding. So far over 15 grants of $10,000 each so far have been awarded. If you are considering getting your nursing degree online, online nursing degree programs make it possible for working adults to earn an advanced degree whenever and wherever it`s convenient for them, rather than having to rearrange work and family responsibilities around fixed class schedules. This ability to continue earning while learning through online nursing degree programs is making school accessible to millions of working professionals who would find it impossible to return to school otherwise. With 24/7 access to virtual classrooms, multimedia lessons, and the ability to network with fellow students and professors via message boards, chat rooms, and e-mail, online students enjoy distinct advantages over campus based students! And there are scholarships available for those that want to study and /or earn their degree(s) online.

Grant Program

Available

For Single Dads

As part of our government's new stimulus package there is more opportunities and more funding for education grants. There are several categories of grants available, but a big portion of it is reserved for dads. The newly revised grant system was created in order to cover many of life's expenses and school at the same time so there is less financial burden for these individuals. There are lots of single dads out there who hold down more than one job to try to support their family. This grant will cover some of this, the tuition, the books, amongst other things.

Once you receive this grant, you can receive up to $10,000 a year or $5100 a semester for up to 18 semesters. That will be more than enough to put you through until you graduate. (In the future the government is looking to increase the funds again to cover even more expenses.)

If you want to go to school, but childcare is a problem, then you can find programs online. There are hundreds of degrees that you can complete over the internet. There are so many options for you that there aren't very many reasons not to take the government's stimulas programs up on their offer.

For more information, you can check out the government's website.

There may be government grant money just waiting for you!

Government Grant Program For Energy Production Companies

There is now a government grant program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits. The new funding creates additional upfront capital, enabling companies to create jobs and begin construction that may have been stalled until now.

This grant program has been put in place as an "investment in our long-term energy needs while creating jobs in communities around the country. This renewable energy program will spur the manufacture and development of clean energy in urban and rural America, allowing us to protect our environment, create good jobs and revitalize our nation's economy."

According to a spokesperson, "These grants will help America's businesses launch clean energy projects, putting Americans back to work in good construction and manufacturing jobs. The initiative will help double our renewable energy capacity over the next few years and make sure America leads the world in creating the clean energy economy of the future."

This grant program is expected to provide more than $3 billion in financial support for clean energy projects by providing direct payments in lieu of tax credits. These payments will support an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities in all regions of the country over the life of the program. As a result of this first round of funding, more than 2,000 Americans will have access to jobs in the renewable energy industry – both in construction and in manufacturing – while moving the nation closer to meeting the Administration's goal of doubling renewable energy generation in the next few years.

The Treasury Department opened the application process for the program on July 31, 2009 and is today making the first awards in half the statutorily mandated turnaround time of 60 days (what this means is that it took only 60 days for the grant recipients to receive the direct money payments!).

Some of the companies that have already received these grant awards include:

• A wheat farm in Oregon received over $47 Million Dollars in project funding!
  
  
• A wind farm in Texas has received over $100 Million Dollars!

As a side note - It seems as though a number of companies outside of the United States has been receiving a big chunk of this grant money. One company in Spain received over $250 Million Dollars!

Another interesting note about this particular grant program is that it has no cap - which means that there seems to be no limit on the maximum amount of grant money that can be received!



Basically what this means is that if your business is one that provides energy production then your business may be eligible to apply for this particular grant program.

$10,000 Grant Program For Non-Profits! This state program is for a social entrepreneurship program. So far three of the 12 recipients will be awarded $10,000 grants from the state to jumpstart their new business plans. The finalists will meet once a month for the next six months to develop ideas on how to expand their services or offer completely new services. During this time, the groups will be meeting with a consulting firm that will help each organization with a business plan, financial analysis and feasibility assessment. Projects that the nonprofits are pursuing include a substance abuse rehab facility, workforce development, a new cord blood bank, domestic violence prevention, community revitalization and a paint recycling program. The state funding that will go to the three final organizations is expected to act as a catalyst to draw more funding from private investors. (For more information about investors, please refer to The Investors Bulletin Board) The other nine finalists will at least have a tool to help them raise capital. according to one of the program's spokespeople, "Many of the organizations just don’t have time to sit down and make a business plan to help them expand".

Do You Need Financial Help For Your Business?

Believe it or not there are still angel investors around! What are angel investors? They are people (and businesses) willing to invest in your business!

Here is an example of one such angel investor program!

If you would like more money for your business then there is a program that you may be eligible to apply for!

What you will need to do is submit your business plan and if the sponsor(s) of this program like it then they will fund your business! It really doesn't get much more simpler than that!

In order to be eligible: Your business plan has to be for a business that will make money! Your business will also have to break even within 2 months and make a profit within 3 months! You will also have to tell the sponsor how they will receive their equity or ROI.

Priority will be given to businesses that are already established!

For more information about this funding program you can also visit the website for more information.

Grant To Start A Business An Example One woman didn’t want to leave her job but in November, the firm that she worked for announced restructuring plans — and axed her position! For about six years, she had been kicking around an idea with her now-husband: a Web site that tracked parking spots for rent in urban areas. They got the idea while chatting about parking gripes over dinner one night with friends, and the next morning went online and secured the domain name for their site. “It’s a scary jump to take the risk to leave a full-time job,” she says. Although she didn’t have any knowledge about the parking business she joined forums and associations, meeting everyone she could. Financing has also been tough. She and her husband approached banks and other traditional sources but found few willing to lend — and those that would insisted on tough terms. So, the two have relied on friends and family, as well as government grants. Another problem was more personal: finding enough self-discipline. “There’s no one telling you what to do anymore. There’s no one telling you to get out of bed at a good hour.…You’ve got to spend your heart and soul into it. You’re now your own boss.” Revenue from the site hasn’t met their early expectations. But she now thinks that those hopes were unrealistic, and the site has shown strong growth in other ways, expanding its network to 30 cities. She also adds that she has no intention of giving up entrepreneurship. “I’m not going back to being a full-time employee,” she says. “I’m working full time now, for me. It may sound selfish, but I’d rather do something for me and build my company than helping someone else build theirs.”

Here Is An Example Of An

Entrepreneur Who Got An Investor!

One man who had long worked in the home-building and remodeling industry — a lucrative field when the housing market boomed a few years ago. But after it began collapsing in mid-2007, he could no longer make a livable income, and took a job selling cars at a dealership. While working full time, he got the idea of building a Web site where consumers could solicit bids from contractors and where general contractors could solicit bids from subcontractors. A Web site, he figured, would simplify a traditionally nettlesome process and allow subcontractors to find jobs that they wouldn’t otherwise know about. In late 2007, he started working with the local small-business help center at a local university to build his business plan and buy up domain names. A counselor at the center also connected him with a local angel investor group.

In February 2008, he pitched the group on his plan for his website and asked for $200,000 to cover start-up costs. Four hours later, one angel called him and said that six of the group’s members would collectively give him the money so then and there he quit his job the next day.

“Once they said, ‘This is such a good idea that we want to put our money in it,’ that was the day I thought, wow, I’m really onto something,” the 28-year-old entrepreneur says.

He spent the next several months working on the site, investing $50,000 of his personal savings, along with $150,000 in bank financing. But growing the business was much harder than he expected, mostly given contractors’ reluctance to use the Internet. Over the first six months, only about 50 signed up for subscriptions to the site. But things are looking brighter in recent weeks as more contractors who are hard pressed to find work realize the Internet can help them. The site currently has about 190 paying subscribers, and he just secured another $200,000 of angel financing!

What’s more, the company, which has six employees, recently sold a franchise in Minnesota and another in Wisconsin for $20,000 each, and is currently talking with other potential franchisees.

He is optimistic that the company will be churning a profit by summer, but recognizes there are still many challenges ahead. “This is a high-risk operation in a struggling industry,”

*Names and specific website addresses have been withheld until the proper permission has been received!

A State Grant Program For Small (For-Profit!) Businesses!

Over $100 Million Dollars will be made available this summer to help create jobs in one state's area! According to one Senator: "The availability of these funds will provide an additional stimulus to our urban cores in the form of new jobs, investment in infrastructure and the creation of a more business-friendly environment.” The money will be used to finance business investment, infrastructure upgrades and downtown redevelopment that will advance the state’s economic vitality. The fund will support projects that help provide a framework for future growth in regions with stymied development. This funding program will be administered by a development organization and will be used to help attract businesses, improve commerce and revitalize local economies. It seems that this money has been already provided but the Governor just recently decided to release the funding! The funding will invest in projects that advance local development and small businesses, for instance making improvement to industrial parks and providing loans for purchase of equipment, real estate or other needs. Please note that the deadline to apply for this funding is June 15, 2009! Eligible applicants include municipalities, businesses, academic institutions, and non-profits. The funding awards will range from $100,000 to $5 million. The program will give a preference to requests for loans, with principal repayments able to be recycled for future projects, and according to the Governor, to ensure that each project meets the specific needs of its region. All applications will undergo a competitive review process by a regional office of directors. Application forms are now being made available online and you can download them from their website

"The Commerce Department wants to help businesses on the path with $50 million in the president’s 2010 budget to create regional “clusters” in which communities partner with colleges, universities and the business sector “to build on natural strengths." The president’s 2010 budget also includes $50 million for business incubators and “hundreds of millions” of dollars in economic grants for businesses and communities."

Grant Program For Non-Profits! *Please note that the deadline to apply for this grant is June 30, 2009! Eligible organizations must be a 501(c)3 non-profit with offices in the local area. Nominations for this grant program may be submitted at their website 5 p.m. CDT on June 30, 2009. This local area grant program was started to help local non-profits continue to offer important services to the local area! The programs will help local non-profits continue to offer important services to the area while also recognizing the hard-working and dedicated individuals who themselves have made a difference in the community. Over $50,000 in grant money will be awarded! Two grants will be awarded to non-profit organizations whose focus is in the areas of: youth development arts and culture environment stewardship The finalists will be notified in September, and the two recipient organizations will be awarded their grants at a recognition event later in 2009.

Have You Made A Positive Impact?

One adult and one high-school student will be recognized by having a grant award donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice.

Eligible recipients must reside in the local area!

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2009.

The two selected individuals will be notified in September, and grants in these individuals` names will be awarded to qualifying organizations of their choice by the end of the year.

For additional information about this local grant program, please visit the website.

So far this organization has provided nearly $100 million to community organizations across the country with a special emphasis on those supporting K-12 education, positive youth development, arts and culture outreach, school safety and Internet safety. Through direct grants and a robust matching-gifts program for employees and retirees, this organization creatively and thoughtfully delivers a commitment to championing the communities where their customers and employees live.

You can also contact them by Email or by phone.

Grant Programs For The Unemployed? You may be eligible for a $5,000 grant towards training for a new job or career! For example one women who left her job used the grant to take computer classes and is now working at the same facility where she got her training! According to one online article: "There are dozens of grants and loans available for job training, career development, and assistance with starting a business. And you don't have to fall on hard times to take advantage of these programs. These programs are available to anyone seeking to change careers. The process of getting the job-training assistance through the program begins with a counselor assessing your skills, goals, the current job market, and financial assistance options. With the classes you want to take in mind, you choose three schools from a list of state-approved institutions, narrow that to the best option, and then work with the staff to put together a package of financial assistance. Assistance is provided for different types of career seekers: If you lose your job to foreign competition, there is a program that provides money for job-training programs up to 104 weeks at what the state and federal government deem a "reasonable cost." The program used to apply primarily to manufacturing, but the recently enacted federal stimulus package extended eligibility to service jobs. There is another financial program that will provide training grants of up to $10,000 per person for workers who lose jobs in layoffs of 50 or more people. This program can even help you with other costs such as bus fare or car insurance! There is also a loan program which will provide up to $10,000 with an interest rate of 7.8 percent which can be used to help pay for a nondegree program or up to half-time enrollment in an associate's degree program. There is also a program that will provide you with waivers which will allow you to collect unemployment benefits, even though your job search is on hold while you're attending school. The waivers are good for one year, and can extend unemployment benefits up to 18 weeks. If you are looking to start your own business then you can receive help from one of the centers that will help you meet with a bank. Then the US Small Business Administration can further assist new business ventures by guaranteeing up to 90 percent of the loan amount. An example of guarantee fees for the borrower under the program: A seven-year $50,000 loan would be set at the prime interest rate plus 2.75 percent. As an example, one women who took advantage of one of the programs started her own business. She got together another woman who was a baker with 20 years of experience who also wanted to start a business of her own. Their goal was to open a café, but neither had much in the way of managerial skills. While at a career center, she found that she could get federal funding for computer and business classes. Now, she is a co-owner of her own Café and Patisserie business which opened last year!

Grant Program For Broadband Internet!

As part of President Obama's stimulus plan there is a grant program that has been started to increase broadband internet access! The first of these grants are supposed to start this month - April 2009!

$8 Billion Dollars has been earmarked for this grant program although the details haven't been fully finalized on how this grant funding will be spent and who will qualify for the grants.

There has been a lot of interest in this particular grant program from lobbyists, telecommunications service providers and community organizers.

The funding agency said it plans to have three rounds of funding for broadband grants, with the first funds available as early as next month through June. The grants must be awarded by Sept. 30, 2010 and the government must ensure that the projects are mostly complete within two years. Applicants must also show the project would not have occurred if not for this funding program.

Part of the reason for this funding program is to generate jobs right away; workers will be needed to dig more trenches to lay down fiber and put up more cell towers. It is also a key to creating valuable high-paying jobs in the future that can help lift troubled economies.

There will be three agencies that will be in charge of the funding program which will oversee $4.7 billion in funding!. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will distribute $2.5 billion in grants and loans. The FCC has been given $350 million to create a better data collection system with a mapping program showing what services are provided in every geography of the nation. The FCC is also supposed to come up with a plan within one year to bring broadband Internet to all Americans. The remainder of the $8 billion will go to administration costs, subsidy programs for low-income users, and audits of the grants.

But before doling out the money, the agencies said they will host a series of public meetings to get comments about how best to implement the program. The agency decided to host the public meetings after receiving more than 2,000 requests for private meetings from telecom companies and other interested parties!

At the hearings and on the agency's public comments web site, interested parties can make recommendations. The funding plan was broadly worded in a way that can include wireless, fiber optic and cable networks and the agencies said they will take into consider which technologies make the most sense from an economic and technological perspective for the area served.

Updates!

The Washington Post also noted that under the stimulus law, the "first funds" for broadband expansion must start flowing between April and June of this year! All grants must be awarded by Sept. 30, 2010, and the broadband projects are supposed to be almost complete within two years.

The administration says it is soliciting comments from interested parties on a wide range of topics, including the criteria for awarding grants and who will be eligible to receive them.

It just goes to show you that I am not the only one that knows that there are government grant programs out there to be had for the small businesses! Here is a link to an article written by someone else who knows that there are government (and other) grant programs out there for the small business. I hope you enjoy reading the article and I hope that it convinces you that there are indeed government grant programs out there for those that have (or are thinking about starting) a small business!

Government Grant Program For Removal of Lead Paint In Homes!

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued A Federal Grant award in the amount of $7 Million Dollars to one city to help eliminate lead hazards in the homes of low-income households. This grant money is expected to help more than 500 families over the next three years. (So far this grant program has helped over 700 families in the local area!)

To qualify for one of the individual grants

• the home must have children under the age of 6
  
  
• the home must be owner-occupied or rental housing built before 1978
  
  
• Families are eligible if their household income is at 80 percent or below the median income, or $63,200 for a family of four.

The individual grant awards are at a maximum of $10,000 per individual grant award and the home repairs / improvements may include the replacement of lead paint-contaminated doors and windows or removal of the paint itself, followed by repainting.

For more information about this government grant program you can contact the Housing Commission by the phone number that they have included or you can send them an email via the email address that was given.



Government Grant Programs For Housing?

In their continuing efforts to help people to not become homeless the government has grant programs for housing which should be available in most states. If you need help for building a new home, financial assistance help with your mortgage or you need financial help to help pay your rent then you should look into what the government grant programs may have to offer you! They have government grant programs that help provide financial relief for those that are having problems paying their rent, if you need a low interest loan to help construct your own home!, and government programs for special prices for homes and apartments.

This is probably another one of the reasons that real estate investors have been applying for government grants relating to housing! For instance homeowners may be eligible to apply for government programs where they get reimbursed for providing discounted rent to low income families!

People who want to build their own home can get housing grants and loans. People who can afford small amount of down payment can build homes through sweat equity and get low interest home owner funds and loans.

State Grant Program For Businesses That Sell Heavy Equipement!

There is a state program that gives money to businesses that upgrade to cleaner-burning equipment! This state assistance program was started to help businesses that are heavy-equipment vendors and so far over $50 Million Dollars has been committed towards this goal! (So far over $700 Million Dollars has been committed since the program started over 5 years ago) The purpose of this grant program is to help provide more cleaner air. The program is funded through state tax receipts but also through higher fees levied on car title registrations in that state.


Examples of the types of businesses that can benefit from this state grant program include businesses involved with the selling and / or operation of oil tankers, buses and even tractor-trailors so that these businesses can retrofit or replace old machines that further pollute the air or cause additional smog conditions.

Any business owner or individual with a qualifying vehicle can apply for this state-only program! If the machine is old enough and spews enough pollution, the owner can get a new vehicle for free, although the grants usually go toward retrofits or upgrades.

One of the grant recipients is a firm that makes concrete and they were able to secure $350,000 in grant money to replace 12-year-old equipment as well as other equipment. When asked about the grant program itself the owner said, "We've done extremely well" and "Why more people don't take advantage of it is beyond me."

For information about this grant program and to see whether or not your business is eligible to apply for assistance you can reach them by calling their toll-free 800 number.




Here is a copy of a recent email I got:

Dear rose,

$50,000 for filling out a simple application?

Government and private Grants help people like yourself during these hard times. We've uncovered secret programs and they're available to you.

Click Here to learn more.

These little know programs to pay your mortgage, cover child care, and send your kids to private school.

Go back to school and have your tuition and living expenses covered. The business that you work on part time - get $15,000 to get it up and running.

We've done all the work for you. For less than a gallon of gas, you could get a check for $1,000 by sending in a form with your name on it.

Anyone can do that! You can take the next step.

Click Here to get your grant money!

I guess the people that sent me this email don't know that I do this kind of thing for a living and already know about these different kinds of grant programs because I have found many grant programs for my clients.

A Safe Haven for Those in Need

This is a call for those who are in need, know of any who are in need, or those who are able to provide out of the surplus of their blessings.

The mission of Arks of Safe Haven is to connect via an extensive network and online message board forum, those individuals and families who have been affected by recent
economic downfalls and are in need with those individuals who are ready, willing and capable of providing assistance to those in need with employment, shelter, work and food.

authorized by Rose

Money Basics 101 Blog

Start-Up Businesses Receive Grants!

Four local businesses received grants of up to $50,000! last month to move them closer to the goal of stronger businesses and a stronger community.

This grant program is funded by federal and state grants and works with industry, government and universities to help companies and ultimately make the United States more competitive. The purpose of the program is to provide grant money to help defray the financial burden of maintaining and growing a start-up technology-based business.

The funding program helps support state businesses and business-related organizations with training, technology assistance, conferencing services, procurement services and business incubation. For incubator companies, the program offer entrepreneurs, many of them startup businesses, affordable office space, shared services, education programs and business counseling. These grants aren't designed to hire employees, but to acquire services to help incubators leverage their business. This money will help their businesses grow.

Among the incubator companies awarded funding was a company which has 2 locations and sells and services renewable energy systems. A cooperative, the company is owned by its five employees. The owner said he will use the grant to expand his business.

Another of the grant recipients provides precision prototypes and CAD assistance to various industries. The president of the company said his company needed a $50,000 grant to develop a laser scanner cranial implant model for skulls. The implant model is a breakthrough technology applicable to the medical technology industry.

And yet another business that has also received the grant, provides engineering and project management services for the design, fabrication and installation of metal finishing, waste treatment and special process equipment systems. The company will use the grant money to increase its marketing effort.

All appropriate applications will be considered for funding. The money can be used for various things from business plan preparation to market analysis and prototype development.



For more information about different grant programs, please click here

Do You Need Help Buying College Textbooks? A non-profit organization has been established to help award textbook grants to college students. There are plans to award the grants each school semester. The textbook grant amounts are in the $500 and $1000 range. The organization also receives (and is asking for) donations from both individuals and businesses to help fund the college textbook program! To find out more about this grant program you can visit the organization's website.

How Would You Like The

Chance To Win Money

To Start Your Own Business?

You could have the chance to win $10,000 to start your own business!

Eligible applicants can submit their business idea and get a chance to win $10,000! One idea every month will win $10,000!

You can visit their website for more information.

In The UK - Tax Rebate Program Goes Begging!

Owners of small businesses are being urged to claim millions of pounds of tax relief on their office buildings.

This relief program was introduced in 2005 to help businesses in properties with a low rateable value to reduce their business outgoings.

The rateable value of a building is based on the cost and value of the property itself, which is reviewed every five years by local councils.

Companies based in a property with a rateable value of £5,000 or less are eligible for rate relief of 50%. This falls by one percentage point for every £100 of rateable value between £5,000 and £10,000.

About £200m in rebates is unclaimed every year and fewer than half of the 87,000 UK businesses that qualify for relief have applied for it. Previously, business owners had to apply for relief every year, but since April 2007 they need to apply once every five years.

It is believed that many companies may not realize they are eligible for a rate rebate.

The director of this program has said "The Government needs to do much more to promote the scheme to help small firms, which need more help now than ever."

Another business owner has said:

"I think the relief is a good thing. The problem is that the Government doesn't do enough to ensure that small businesses know about this. There should be a one-stop shop where firms can find out what business benefits, reliefs and grants they are entitled to."

In My Own State Of Pennsylvania: A one-time scholarship grant has been designed to double the number of high school graduates as well as the number of children attending college. Over the past year the program has provided more than 4000 students with assistance in furthering their education. This scholarship program, which awards up to $3,000 in scholarships to eligible seniors attending Pennsylvania state institutions, has contributed more than $7 million toward advancing the education of Philadelphia's youth.

Business Plan Competition!

This Business Plan Competition is aimed at students, university graduates, scientific staff and professors as well as entrepreneurs, business employees, inventors and developers. Anybody from anywhere in the world, who has an innovative and high-growth nanotechnology or polymer-based materials business project can participate.

To participate in the competition any idea must have the following characteristics:

• Nanotechnology or polymer-based materials related - Nanotechnology is defined as the techniques and procedures used to manipulate the matter at the nanoscale level (10-9 m). For a broader definition please refer to classification systems of Patent Offices (i.e. USPTO, EPO, WIPO, etc.).
  

• Business oriented - The fundamental objective of the Competition is to promote the creation of start-up ventures, in any application field of nanotechnology and polymer-based materials, in specific regions of Italy. Participants must aim at developing their ideas into real businesses.
  

• Start-up phase - The competition is intended for new business ideas, and not to provide expansion capital to existing businesses.
  
  Owners of existing businesses are not precluded from entering the competition. However, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to evaluate the eligibility of teams that have already started operations (the product or service has already been delivered to the customers, or the company has already been established), on a case-by-case basis. Within such limitations, existing business owners are encouraged to enter.

Only after registration, Entry Teams will be allowed to submit an Executive Summary of their business project. Early submissions are encouraged. The Executive Summary must be emailed in PDF format to the competition's email address.

Receipt confirmation will be given within 24 hours.

The Executive Summary must not exceed 4 pages (excluding title and appendices) of text typed, single spaced, 10 or 12 font size, and at least 2 cm margins on all sides. Detailed spreadsheets and appropriate appendices should follow the text portion of the Executive Summary, and will not be counted in the 4-page limit. However, each Team should presume the judging panel will not necessarily read the appendices. Nevertheless, appendices should be included only as support to the presented findings, statements and observations.

Executive Summaries must be written in English.

Each Team must indicate a team member as referent for the verification of the contents of the submitted Executive Summary. If necessary, this reference will act as a contact point during the preliminary screening by the Organising Committee.

Executive Summaries must include/address the following indications:

1. Business Concept: explain your idea and its innovation. Be direct and effective. Basically, how you would describe your business to a potential investor/customer.

2. Opportunity and Strategy: focus on the existing problems/needs you solve/meet with your services or products. Highlight the primary benefits your idea brings to customers and how you would tackle them.

3. Technology: outline the technology at the base of your business idea. Do not be too technocratic, focus on the core technological features of your offering. For specific information about the technology involved use the appendices. Describe your position regarding the protection of Intellectual Property.

4. Market Analysis and Competitive Advantage: describe the target market, how big it is and its key features and trends. Highlight why customers would buy the products, and the market opportunity for sustainable margins and growth in the long term. Consider and indicate the competitors and how your company would face them. Highlight your competitive advantage and entry barriers for potential competitors. Keep the focus on the keys to success in your competitive environment.

5. Economics and Financials: explain in more details the assumptions used for revenues and expenses projections. Give an essential prospect on when cash flow would become positive. Outline your capital needs and what you would use such capital for. Try to be as clear as possible so the judges can see what your business potential is.

6. Team and Organisation: give a short summary of each Team member's background, what they would bring to the company, and how he/she would help the company to succeed. Briefly describe an implementation plan, with milestones and key success factors. Illustrate existing and potential risks involved.

7. Appendices: any additional detailed or confidential information that could be useful to the readers of the Executive Summary but not appropriate for distribution can be presented here. Appendices can include: detailed technology description; patents; market studies; highlights of Profit and Loss statement and/or Balance Sheet; etc.


For more specific information you are kindly requested to consult their Official Rules and Requirements which is available as a .pdf download

A Total Amount of € 600.000 Grand Prizes - Anybody anywhere with an innovative and high-growth nanotechnology or polymer-based materials business idea can participate and try to win one of the 2 Grand Prizes of € 300,000 each, using the money to start operations in Italy.

The two prizes are not cumulative: Teams must compete either for the nanotechnology or the polymer-based materials category.

Nanotechnology category - The winner of the nanotechnology Grand Prize will receive the € 300.000 to start its operations inside the national nanotechnology cluster in a specific region of Italy.

Polymer-based materials category - The winner of the polymer-based materials Grand Prize will receive € 300.000 to fund a start-up in the technological district on polymeric and composite materials of a specific region of Italy.

Bio-technology Company Receives A $3.4 Million Dollar Grant From The Government!

First off let me state that this grant award will span over a 2-year period.

The reason why this company is receiving the grant is because they will use the grant money to develop technology to advance vaccine research and development. This
technology will help with the development of vaccine systems used to protect
military personnel from biological agents.


(*On a more personal note, I really am not in favor of using animals as test models!)

Also the grant money will be used to continue the development of a trademarked technology for rapid generation of vaccine candidates and high-throughput testing in animal models. The work will be done in collaboration with another company. By creating multiple vaccine leads in parallel, the two companies hope to increase the odds of successfully advancing promising vaccines into late stage clinical trials.

This company also has vaccine programs in the areas of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, and encephalitic alphaviruses, which are funded through various external agencies. Researchers at this company have also generated thousands of lead candidates for their vaccine programs using their trademarked platform.


The company has announced that they are pleased that the government will continue
to fund their work.

The grant which was announced last month will allow the company to continue work done
under a previous contract with the Department of Defense.

The same company also has a HIV program that is also being funded by the U.S.
Government's National Institutes of Health and it's Small Business Grant Program. The company has also received funding for the development of vaccines against influenza and encephalitic alphaviruses.


A recent news release contains forward-looking statements about the research and business prospects of the company including whether the Department of Defense will maintain its recent grant to them for the development of vaccine discovery technology and whether any other government agency that provides them with funding will maintain, renew or replace existing grants for any of their vaccine programs. Risk factors are more fully discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, including under the caption "Risk Factors," and in
the company's other periodic reports filed with the SEC, all of which are
available from the company or from the SEC's website.



Basically what this all means is that the government does have grant programs for for-profit companies and if you noticed this grant program has to do with a small business!

This company is developing technology (biological) that will help in keeping their military less susceptible to biological threats!

Now I know that this may seem like a grant program that it out of your league but you should realize that the government has other needs as well and when they can't solve the problem themselves there will usually be a grant program created and /or a subcontractor (whether it be an individual or an entity) hired.




________________________________________________________



Grants & Single Mothers

(an excerpt)


"There are numerous foundations offering grants for single mother assistance. These foundations generally only require that the applicant be a single mother or the child of a single mother in order to be eligible for the grant. Some foundations offer grants to assist in paying off student loans. The applicant is often expect to perform community service or do volunteer work in order to qualify for the grant. Professional women who are willing to volunteer their professional services to the community are especially eligible for grants to repay student loan debt. Teachers who are also single mothers may qualify for these grants without doing additional volunteer service, as teaching is considered to be a contribution to the community in and of itself."

________________________________________________________

Dental Students Receive Grants!

Over sixty dental school students received nearly a quarter of a million dollars in grants this year from various dental-related organizations.


These 2008 Awards were presented to students at 20 dental schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia, recognize graduating dental students who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.

-- Awards total $212,500;

Individual amounts range from $2,500 to $12,500

The awards were established in 1977 in honor of one of the first chief executive officers of a dental organization in California, which is now part of the largest dental benefits delivery system in the country.

Even Big Companies Like Dell Get Government Grants!

If you still think that there are no grant programs out there then you should read the information below:

Dell, the computer company, will continue to get MILLIONS of dollars in state and local grants. In return the company has promised to create more jobs and invest money in the area.

This comes after a court decision was made when Dell was sued because an advocacy group thought that the government grants that they were getting were benefitting the company more than it was benefitting the community. When the initial court ruling was in Dell's favor, the group decided to appeal but their appeal was rejected by the State Court Of Appeals. The court has ruled in favor of Dell which may possible mean that the computer company will not have to pay income tax on the government grant money that it has received. Basically the decision was that state officials have the right to decide who they give government grant money to.

Texas-based Dell could get up to $278 million in state grants and tax breaks if it makes good on its promise, plus a local package worth $37.2 million that covers taxes and startup and other costs.

Do You Own A Small Trucking Company? Here Is A Grant Program That You May Be Interested In!

The Environmental Protection Agency has started a NEW $50 Million grant program to help reduce the harmful effects of diesel engine emmissions.

Applications have been accepted as early as last month!

This grant program is targeted specifically towards the smaller trucking companies and larger truckings companies are not eligible to apply! If you own a small business that is not a trucking company you still may be eligible to apply!

*There is still not yet a firm determination as to which businesses qualify as a "small" business yet

The grant program itself provides financial grants for those (small) businesses that want apply for grant money to replace and retrofit diesel engines that predate when the EPA started engine standards 10 years ago. Examples of the diesel engines mentioned includ heavy duty trucks, buses, certain farm equipment and construction vehicles.

Grant recipients can use the money to pay for EPA-verified retrofit and idle-reduction technology, EPA-certified engine upgrades and vehicle or equipment replacements.

Applications can be found at the government website and application submissions will be accepted now. For more information you can visit the government's website and you can also contact them by email.

Here is a direct quote from one of the staff members associated with this grant program:

“We intend for this money to go to small companies and small fleet owners that need this kind of support.......”..........“Large companies will not qualify.” ...............................

$1 Millon Grant To Research And STUDY Daycare!

The most interesting thing about this government grant program is that it is open for for-profit businesses to apply for! For instance if you already operate a daycare and are a for-profit business you may be eligible to apply for this grant!

Here is more information about the grant program itself!



Eligible Applicants

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  

• Private institutions of higher education
  

• Small businesses
  

• For profit organizations other than small businesses
  

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Additional eligibility types:

• Hispanic-Serving Institutions
  

• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  

• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
  

• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  

• Faith-based and community organizations are eligible to apply.
  

• Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement.

The purpose of this grant program announcement is to award a cooperative agreement to operate Child Care and Early Education Research Connections for five years. This cooperative will work to support family economic self-sufficiency and child care quality for families with children ages 0-12 or with special needs by fostering a child care and early education knowledge management and support system.


Basically what this means is that this grant program fund supports projects that add to the knowledge about the efficacy of child care policies and programs toward achieving two targeted long-term outcomes which are enhancing the economic security of low-income families with young children and improving quality in all child care and early education settings.

This is basically a research and/or study grant to help find ways to better help low-income families who have young children and to find better ways to enhance child care and other educational settings that are targeted towards young children.

Other goals include:

• Operating a state-of-the-art, web-based child care and early education project with a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of research articles and reports, selected datasets, policy data, ready access to datasets for secondary analysis, technical assistance for contributors and users, strong linkages with other archives and information systems, and ongoing synthesis of data into useful information and knowledge for child care and early education research and policy.
  

• Making sound child care and early education research findings available to researchers and policymakers in accessible language and formats.

Deadline for Applications: May 2008!

Applicants are highly encouraged to send a letter of intent

Applications can be submitted via the government's website

Acceptable electronic formats for the application attachments (narratives, charts, etc.) must use the following standard technologies, i.e., Microsoft (Word and Excel), Word Perfect, Adobe PDF, Jpeg, and Gif.

It is strongly recommended that applicants do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications well before the closing date and time so that if difficulties are encountered there will still be sufficient time to submit a hard copy via express mail. It is to an applicant's advantage to submit 24 hours ahead of the closing date and time in order to address any difficulties that may be encountered.

Applications can be submitted in person, by mail and via website.

There are 2 official government agencies that can be contacted for more information. They can be reached by mail, phone and email.


Grant Award: $1.5 Million (over a period of 5 years)

Address to Request Application Package

If you would like to receive notifications of changes to this grant opportunity click send me change notification emails. The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.

Here Is A Grant Program To Help A Business GET A Grant!

Since I get a good deal of information about new grant programs emailed to me on a regular basis, here is an announcement of a new grant program that has been started to help businesses GET a grant:

This grant program is being sponsored by a state-funded organization

The purpose of this new grant program is to help small businesses to improve their chances of winning federal dollars for research and development.

Up to $4,000 will be awarded to qualified businesses that need assistance apply for a grant programs being offered by the federal government. In other words, this grant program is providing grant money to businesses to help them better apply for federal grants!

The federal grant program provides grants that are designed to stimulate innovation and development in high technology industries.

The organization began accepting applications March 2008 for the $100,000 allocated for the training program, and will accept submissions until June 30th, 2008 or funds are depleted.

Acceptable grant award expenditures include:

• consultant services
  
  
• printing supplies
  
  
• conference and workshop registration fees relating to applying for the federal grant program
  
  
• database search fees and legal fees for provisional patent preparation costs

Even though states like to boast about how they have some of the most innovative businesses in the nation, too often those businesses are held back by a lack of financial resources and industry connections.

Here is a quoted excerpt from one of the members of the organization:

"The federal government has billions of dollars in grant money set aside each year that, if secured, could advance the mission of these businesses and, in turn, the economy of our state.”

Last year, the federal government awarded over $2 billion in research dollars to small businesses across the nation, but only a small fraction of those funds came to one state in particular.

There seems to be an interest in this specific grant program because they are trying to increase the number of businesses in their own state that apply for these federal grants. According to records this one state only receives about 1/10th of the grant monies that some other states have been awarded in comparison to their own state. By starting this new grant program, the organizations hopes to increase those numbers and increase the amount of grant money that has been awarded to businesses in the state.

More information and applications are available at the organization's website

Government Grant Program Open To All!

Here is one of the most latest government grant programs that is open to all!

Announcement of Program Funding

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

requests applications for a conservation-related grant program. This grant program has been put in place to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

For Fiscal year 2008, up to $100,000 is available for this government grant competition. Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process. There are two components of this grant program available in fiscal year 2008:

• Natural Resource Concerns Component and the Technology Component.
  
  Applications are requested from eligible government or non-government organizations or individuals within the state that is holding this competition for consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration.
  
  This information identifies the objectives for this grant program which includes the eligibility criteria for projects and associated instructions needed to apply.
  
  PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND ADDRESSES:
  
  Proposals must be received in the State Office by 4 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST) on April 25, 2008.
  
  The address for hand-delivered applications or applications submitted using mail or overnight courier service is also provided as part of this grant information.
  
  To submit your application electronically, you can visit the government's website and follow the instructions.
  
  See the URL link for the full announcement of this grant program.