Finding Governent Grants

[cyberhubbard]

I am currently seeking information about government grants for small business startup. I have found a few sites to automatically sign up for them, but most want money for information on how to find them. If anyone has any information on sites that will automatically plug into the grant applications, please let me know.

[worldforsale]

Welcome aboard!

http://www.grants.gov/search/searchHome.do

Good Luck!
gm

[yishing]

Unfortunately there are no grants available for most start-ups. Here is an article by Businessweek that I hand in to all my clients who ask me for grant information:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/0001/sa000111.htm

Good luck

__________________
Guideye.com is a resource for starting, operating and financing a small business in New York. Visit us at www.guideye.com

[shizai1]

The most important thing that has to be realized is what type of business it is that you want to start. I know of a grant program that is open to minorities and the grant awards are $20K. However one of the other requirements is that you submit a business plan. Another important thing is that this isn't a government grant program but a grant program sponsored by a business.

You have to realize that not all grant programs are from the government.

Another thing that has to be realized is that you have to apply for a grant. Theoretically speaking the application that best fits the needs of the entity awarding the grant is the one that will be awarded the grant.

The sites that charge fees along with grantwriters and researchers get the bulk of their information online. 90% of all the grant program information that I have has been gotten online. In the case of government grant programs - since it is the government that has these program the information about those programs has to be accessible to the public which means that information is online.

In the case of the grant programs that are not by the government but by organizations, businesses and the like it is the matter of finding the programs themselves. Take 1 percent of all the organizations and businesses, et al and that still amounts to a good number of grant and funding programs that are out there.

[Stiltskin]

There are government grants, but you will only find them in your local area. For example, if there is a community under redevelopment, you could get a grant for a small startup. As far as finding a grant online, not possible unless you are going to do startup business working directly with the government. Do not pay someone to write a grant proposal unless it is to work for the government.

[ETPN]

I've been searching high and low for these mysterious grants as well. In fact feel free to check out my blog on a particularly interesting rant about those "grant" books.

The only grants I can find go to non-profits who can then loan you the money. There is potential if you are female or a minority, but I've been looking for those too and haven't come across something yet. Definitely check local programs, especially small towns or other areas they are trying to build up the economy. They probably won't be very big though, but every little bit helps. Also you can be unlucky like me and find out that the county guy doesn't really do his job.

Write a good business plan and use that to get loans. You can get a guarntee from the SBA, which will make it easier to get a loan, but for the most part you'll have to pay back whatever you get.

A similar question was asked here
http://www.small-business-forum.com/...ad.php?t=13824

My experience and opinions on Grants.

Also, I don't think this is going to be a good year for the "Start Up " business loan, unless the President does one of those,
"Now is the time to support the entrepreneurial spirit. To further expansion. Empower the American Family. And to continue to drive our economy down the right track.."
speeches.

Stand By with your paper work, it's about that time for the old Presidential - Attention Redirect.
"Things suck, but I'm going to put more money in your pocket" trick.
(Don't let me get started on it)

[Stiltskin]

eBorg,

You make a great point. I am hearing that this year is going to be bad for trying to get business loans. Loan companies are shutting their doors after making the housing market flourish for many years with no down payments. It is sad that one industry affects a totally different industry.