Grant Program For Local Artists!

By "local" I mean this is a grant program for artists in my own state of Pennsylvania.

This grant program for individual artists in the state has been around now for a few years. For the year 2008 over 70 different artists have received this grant of $5,000. The grant money can be used to "finance a creative endeavor or buy some quality writing time" and the grant money must be used in the same year that it was given.

Here is a list of current and past grant recipients:

• Poet who is going to use her grant has not decided on exactly how she is going to use her grant money but she is thinking of using it in connection with traveling which she uses as inspiration for her writings - she has also applied for and won this grant in the past
  
  
• Painter who also works at an art gallery.

These grants go directly to the individual artist!

How Is This For Results! - Need Some Heating Help This Winter?

Did you know that there are grant programs out there to help you with your heating bills? Not only that, there are also grant programs out there to help you if you need any repairs to your heating system!

How do I know this? I know this because a recent client of mine had their home inspected for a heating-related audit. Guess what they are going to get from the results of the inspection?

• repairs to their heating system to get it working again
  

• new thermostat installed!
  

• a NEW hot water heater! (plus installation at no cost!)
  

• a NEW refridgerator (because their old one is more than 10 years old and the motor is faulty)
  

• new smoke detectors - with the batteries already included!
  

• various related additions like weatherstripping and caulk work

If you are worried about being able to make it through the winter then you should definitely check your state's website to see if they have any similar grant programs available in your area.

I had a chance to talk to one of the contractors who is doing the work and he told me that they have already done this kind and similiar kinds of work and repairs to over a hundred qualified applicants!

Need Some Help Paying Your Heating Bill?

I just got finished faxing a copy of a client's heating bill to a local organization that helps people with paying their heating bills. They can't provide much but they do provide what they have in the way of finacial assistance to those that are having trouble paying their heating bill.

I have dealt with this organization before on the behalf of other clients who have had trouble paying their heating bill and need a little financial assistance to help them out. The woman on the phone was very nice and she told me that she was expecting some financial funds to help provide others with financial help to help pay their heating bills (which will be most helpful now because the weather is starting to get colder!).

The first time that I dealt with this organization all I needed to do was send in a copy of the heating bill. That was a few years ago. Now the procedure for getting financial assistance to help pay a person's heating bill seems to be the same.

This is a small organization and a local one. I suspect that one of the reasons why they do not advertise is because if a lot of people knew about the financial assistance that they provide they would get an over-whelming number of calls from people needing help to pay their heating bills. They do not even have a website.

So while this is a local organization, you should check within your own area to see if you can find a similar organization that helps by providing financial assistance to those that need help to pay their heating bills.

Governor Announces New Funding For Pre-K Children!

In my own state of Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell has annonced a new funding program to help pre-k children. The funding amount is over $70 Million Dollars and will go towards helping 3 to 4 year old kids to benefit more from their kindergarden programs.

School districts, nursery schools and daycare centers have all received funding from this program. Private schools that meet the eligibility requirements can also apply for this funding.

Since this funding program is still relatively new, exact amounts of the grant funding have not been announced yet.

Over 20 recipients in over 10 counties have already received this funding!

For more information about this funding program you can visit the governor's website.

Daycare Grants - How's THIS for ironic?

Do you know that there is a grant program in one state where eligible students can receive grant funding to help put their children in daycare? Did you also know that the director of the organization said that it was difficult trying to find the young parents who need the daycare grants? And if that don't beat all how about this - Did you know that the daycares that the young parents choose for the grant funding don't even have to be licensed daycares!!!! However starting in 2008 all the daycares eligible for this funding will have to be licensed daycares

Just like the majority of grant programs out there eligible students (you can be a part-time student) must apply for these grants. Applications will be accepted until September of this year ('07).

I find the dilemma of the director of this program quite interesting. Putting up a few flyers would definitely guarentee that enough people who would be interested in this program would contact them to find out if they were eligible to apply for this grant program.

Also too I have heard comments from others saying that while the government does have grant programs they either don't advertise them or don't have the money to advertise them - something else which I find strange but then again because its the government I don't find it strange at all.

Because of the work that I do I am begining to find that information about grant programs can be had almost anywhere. I remember a conversation with a neighbor and the subject of grants came up. He was talking about how one of the non-profit organization in my area has a woman who is very good at getting grant funding for that organization. Another woman in my area got a grant to write a book about the area. I have listened to radio shows (mostly local) that talk about grant programs and I have found articles in the newspapers about grant programs - both local and federal. It's not just the Internet and the library that are sources of grant information - I found that out very pleasantly!

Even My Own State Has Daycare-Related Grant Programs

Even in my own state of Pennsylvania the US Dept. Of Welfare has worked with a childcare grant program which awards grants to both for-profit and non-profit daycare services that will serve or agree to serve children from low-income families. The minimum grant award amount is $50,000! The maximum is $1 Million Dollars! Special consideration will be given to those that provide childcare services during non-traditional hours. Non-profits can also apply on the behalf of for-profits. Contact information is provided via regular snail mail address, phone and fax number and website.