| Free money! Receive up to $25,000 that never has | | | | good place to start is the Small Business |
| to be paid back -- Guaranteed! Get a grant to start | | | | Administration. They've got a great Website that has |
| your own business today!If you're a small business | | | | lots of information to get you started. You can even |
| owner, or you've always dreamed of starting your | | | | take free online classes to learn how to write -- or |
| own business, you've probably run across ads like | | | | tweak -- your business plan.After that, start locally. |
| these. Companies that "guarantee" you'll get a grant | | | | Check with your own Small Business Development |
| to start your own business that never has to be paid | | | | Center, Chamber of Commerce or, if you're in a rural |
| back. Purchase their product, and they'll give you the | | | | area, Association of Government office. If there are |
| "secrets" to making all your money troubles go | | | | small business grants available in your area, these are |
| away.Have you ever wondered if all the hype is | | | | the experts who will know about them.Don't forget |
| true? Can you really get free cash to start or expand | | | | about your local library. The librarian in charge of the |
| your business? Before you spend your hard-earned | | | | research section is very knowledgeable, and can |
| money on what could turn out to be nothing more | | | | provide you with a wealth of materials.It's important |
| than a list of names and addresses (that you can | | | | to keep an open mind and think outside the box |
| actually get for free in the Internet by the way), | | | | when you're looking for grants. Not all grants come in |
| keep reading to learn the truth about grants for | | | | the form of cold, hard cash. You might be able to |
| individuals and business start-ups.First of all, what is a | | | | find funding that will pay for the training you need, |
| grant?A grant is a sum of money that is used for a | | | | business classes or get a scholarship to go to your |
| specific purpose. Grants are given away by charitable | | | | local community college.Your local Small Business |
| organizations called foundations, and their sole | | | | Development Center may operate a "small business |
| purpose is to give away that money.In addition, the | | | | incubation center" and can provide you with low-cost |
| U.S. Federal government also gives away billions of | | | | office space that includes telephone lines, use of |
| dollars of grant money every year for many reasons | | | | office equipment, meeting rooms and someone to |
| -- including to support and encourage economic | | | | answer calls and take messages.If you need help |
| development and small business growth, which is | | | | with advertising or marketing your products or |
| where you come in.So what's the catch? (You knew | | | | services, look to larger corporations, your local |
| there had to be a catch, right? I mean, if it was that | | | | chamber of commerce or your city's economic |
| easy, every new business out there would be | | | | development office. They may offer co-op |
| starting out in the black!)Most corporations, | | | | advertising programs, reduced printing costs on |
| foundations and government agencies ONLY give | | | | specific advertising campaigns, and other resources |
| grant money to nonprofit organizations that have a | | | | for getting your name out to your target market. If |
| 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS.The most | | | | you sell products for nationwide companies, check to |
| common grants given to individuals are in the form of | | | | see if there are advertising incentives where they'll |
| scholarships.So, are there any grants available to you | | | | help to pay for your advertising costs.If you're a |
| as a small business owner? Yes. Is somebody just | | | | member of a professional or trade organization, see |
| waiting to hand you a check for $25,000? No. In fact, | | | | if they offer programs. Check the Internet. You can |
| you may never actually see the cash. But that | | | | find grant information from the federal government |
| doesn't mean you can't take advantage of all the | | | | online. The foundation center is another great |
| programs that are out there -- and that could add up | | | | resource with an interactive database. Women should |
| to a lot more than $25,000. You just have to know | | | | utilize women's organizations and the women's |
| where to look and what to ask for.Here's how it | | | | business centers.You can check the foundation |
| works. First of all, be prepared. Finding a grant is | | | | center online for a very comprehensive listing of |
| going to take some work on your part. You'll want to | | | | foundations and the grants they offer. |
| set up a system for keeping the information | | | | Again...remember that most foundations DON'T give |
| organized. You can create a paper system with files | | | | grants to individuals, so don't waste a lot of time |
| and a calendar, of do it on your computer. You're | | | | looking at the foundations themselves. Instead, LOOK |
| going to want to separate your research into | | | | FOR THE NONPROFIT organizations they have give |
| classifications that make sense for your business, plus | | | | grants to! You're looking specifically for economic or |
| you'll need to keep track of who's giving what away | | | | community development grants.That's you'll actually |
| and the corresponding deadlines.Next, you'll have to | | | | be able to access whatever grants, services and |
| do some research to find what programs are | | | | resources are available, because the nonprofit |
| available in your area, and what the guidelines are. | | | | organizations are the ones who work with indidivuals |
| Then you'll have to do some deeper research, to | | | | and provide "service delivery."To find out who is |
| eliminate the ones you don't qualify for. (Most grants | | | | getting the money, check the foundations 990 tax |
| have some type of restrictions -- some are | | | | forms, which are usually available online. That will tell |
| geographic, some are targeted towards specific | | | | you which nonprofit organizations to contact.Keep a |
| groups, some are for specific types of businesses, | | | | file of all the possibilities, and hone your research to |
| etc.)And the third and final step will be to apply for | | | | the sources that provide the best fit for your |
| the grants you qualify for and need. (For a small | | | | needs.There are resources out there, if you're willing |
| business grant, what's required is usually a well | | | | to spend the time looking for them. Keep an open |
| written business plan).So how do you get started? | | | | mind, be willing to think outside the box, and never |
| Before you start looking for grant money, you need | | | | give up!Cheryl Antier is the President/CEO of Dream |
| to figure out exactly what you're looking for. What | | | | Weaver Enterprises, a business and fundraising |
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| next level. This will not only help you to be more | | | | to your Personal Success) was started as a way for |
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| time in the long run.For example, do you need | | | | MAPS offers a free monthly ezine called "Directions". |
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| to learn a new process or need to learn how to use | | | | find out about the latest programs, grants and |
| specific equipment?Do you need assistive technology | | | | funding opportunities in your area -- and know |
| because of a disability?Do you need cash to purchase | | | | BEFORE you apply if you qualify. NEVER be taken in |
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| need.Now it's time to start looking for your grant. A | | | | |