Small Business Grants

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I am looking for information on small business grants. I've tried grants.gov and a few other well known sites but they aren't very specific. Does anyone know a resource that is helpful and reliable? Or of any small business contest?

Best Answer

Grants.gov is the main resource for grants, and it was designed to be the one-stop source of information on grants. They have a link to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance http://www.cfda.gov which is the federal database listing all available government grants. I am unsure why you would think that these resources; probably because you are be looking for grants to help a for-profit small business start or expand a business and can't find any. Unfortunately, hardly any grants exist for those purpose. Most grants are available to non-profits, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Take for example Grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance - this grant is given only to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs. Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program, on the other hand, is given to minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT. These are very specific grant information from CFDA.gov Even if you buy books on grants or pay for lists, all they will give you are rehash versions of the CFDA database. Still, you'd be hardpressed to find anything that will give free money to small businesses owners for the purposes of starting a business. Your best bet is to check with your local small business development center, local non government organizations and local government if they have some assistance to small businesses. To cite an example, a Washington DC area nonprofit called Community Business Partnership recently entered into an agreement with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity to promote the DHL Advancing Micro-Entrepreneurs Program and the DHL Cares Project. They have been asked to select ten clients who meet the criteria for AEO/DHL program participation. Those ten clients who agree to participate in this program will receive $1000 for business development as well as free and reduced cost shipping during the program's duration. This is the type of programs available for business owners.

I'm planning to open a small business in my area. I am a women and a minority, I hear rumors that there is grant money available but i also hear that there is not. PLEASE HELP. Also if there is please include information or ideas on how to go about obtaining the grants. loans are NOTan option.

Best Answer

It is hard to find grants to start a business. What you hear are myths that you can get grants to start a business -- mostly perpetuated by those who want to scam the gullible. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born. Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture. Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business. Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html "The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments." Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE. http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/ CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business: Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 1572484500/powerhomebizguid Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0808007386/powerhomebizguid Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 1580626815/powerhomebizguid The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 158062202X/powerhomebizguid Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0471690635/powerhomebizguid Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0764124897/powerhomebizguid

Does anyone have any info on how to acquire small business grants? Loans are not that difficult to find, but the grants are. I hear the government has a ton, but I'm having trouble finding them..Please help!! Thanks

Best Answer

The government has NO grants for private business. You can look for yourself, grants.gov, but tax payers do not set each other up for business. The government does have loans available though, sba.gov

How do i go about recieving a small business grant. Im opening up a business and need a little help on recieving money. i know they have a lot of grants out there. So can anyone help me on how to go about recieving some help with a grant. Thanx!!!

Best Answer

Yes there are a lot of grants out there -- but NONE for starting a business. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html "The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments." Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE. http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/ CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

I have a small business, in business (barely) for a year, and need to get info into best site for information on small business grants? I appreciate any information or suggestion you have. I am trying to keep my head above water, and started with little to no money in my name. I am 39 years old, with 2 sons, single parent. my business is small, concierge services. I am also developing an ag tour that goes to farms here and a fishpond. part of my proceeds goes back to these farms and fishpond, in an effort to help them stay afloat as well. I am in the business of making more revenue for established businesses, namely, the farms. farmers need all the help they can get nowadays. please help me if you can. much appreciated

Best Answer

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for starting a for-profit business. One possible exception is for companies developing or exporting agricultural goods, including food and forest product. Another exception could be the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbir/ index.html , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs. Your best bet actually will be from the states if they offer grant programs for women (or any other special interest groups -- minorities, women, disabled, veterans, etc). Or check with non profit organizations, particularly women organizations if they offer grants. Examples include Iowa Women's Foundation http://www.iawf.org/ New Mexico Women's Foundation http://www.nmwf.org/guidelines.html Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/mostrequesteditems/ CON_FAQ2.html "The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments." Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture. Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE. http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/ CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs I suggest you read the following books to get ideas of how to finance your business: Financing Your Small Business http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 1572484500/powerhomebizguid Small Business Financing: How and Where To Get It http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0808007386/powerhomebizguid Financing the Small Business: A Complete Guide to Obtaining Bank Loans and All Other Types of Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 1580626815/powerhomebizguid The SBA Loan Book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 158062202X/powerhomebizguid Angel Capital : How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0471690635/powerhomebizguid Financing Your Small Business (Barron's Business Library Series) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0764124897/powerhomebizguid For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online http://gtionline.fdncenter.org . It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.