Everyone knows that it takes money to make money. But what happens if you just don’t have the cash you need to start a business?
If you’re an enterprising entrepreneur who needs money to start a business, or to expand your existing business, you need to know about the free small business grants program. Many states offer small business grants, allowing novice business owners the chance to start or improve their ventures. Others provide financial assistance in the form of loans or incentives for small businesses. It requires relatively little effort to apply for small business grants, and the payoff can mean the difference between failure and success.
In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers small business grants to individuals who have good ideas pertaining to security-related innovations. Through the DHS Small business Innovation Research, small business grants are offered to qualifying businesses in the United States with 500 or fewer employees. An initial small business grant of up to $100,000 is available, allowing applicants six months to conduct the research required to prove the scientific, technical and commercial values of their concepts. If the DHS approves the proposal, the successful company may then apply for two-year free small business grant to develop prototypes of the product. Proposals must fall into one of the following categories: information technology, marine security or chemical and biological defense.
The federal government does not provide free small business grants; however a number of state-run development agencies do offer grants and other forms of financial assistance to help budding entrepreneurs start or expand their small businesses. Economic development agencies that extend small business grants exist in Kansas, Utah, Nebraska, New Hampshire and New Mexico. Other states offer financing and technical training services to individuals who want to go into small business.
Even though the federal government does not provide individuals with small business grants, it has spearheaded efforts to support individuals starting small businesses, through the Small Business Administration (SBA). Through the SBA, the U.S. government extends very attractive loan packages, along with the necessary technical support and training, to help small business owners succeed. The SBA was established in 1953, and has helped thousands of budding American entrepreneurs develop their small businesses. SBA offices can be found in every state, and work in cooperation with various lending, non-profit and educational and training organizations nationwide.
Small businesses account for more than half of the nation’s gross domestic product, and continuously generate new jobs for the U.S. economy. With these facts in mind, the SBA intends to reach the 25 million small businesses that employ more than fifty percent of the total private industries work force.
With the huge contribution small businesses give to the U.S. economy, it is imperative that proper assistance and guidance be provided for individuals engaged in small business. Small business grants are small but important benefits given to these deserving individuals.
If you are a U.S. citizen with dreams of making it big in business, and a budget that requires you to start out small, look to your state government for information on how you can benefit from small business grants.
By: Elizabeth Thomas
Posts Tagged ‘Department Of Homeland Security’
Small Business Grants
December 13th, 2009Personal Grants For Small Businesses
December 10th, 2009Let’s face it! Governmental Grants are essential in today’s day and date. If you have a business prospect, and if it rebounds, then there’s a huge risk to your business, and even your home. Everybody who wishes to start a business or expand his original needs grants from the government. The federal Government of US has made it possible for every entrepreneur to start up his or her small business, with the help of their small business administrator. These grants and other types of professionally acquired business loans offered in US are of extreme importance and are sought by each and every entrepreneur. US federal Government is the nations’ largest grant supplier, and makes sure that people gain benefits and in turn the country does too. Business grants and loans can be acquired by every entrepreneur through the new facilities and prospects provided by the US federal Government. The grants also differ from business to business. For the homeland security purposes, and home building purposes, the Department of Homeland Security in US, offers these entrepreneurs with free small business grants if they want to launch business related to security. Special Business Grants There are business grants given to older women, or to people in the minority classifications, to present to them an equal opportunity to start up their own business. This gives them an easy access to the broad range of facilities and activities which is included in the other things. The limitation involved in this kind of grant money is a whopping $500000 per starting business. Of course you need to be aware of your state and governmental agency and plans, in order to reap the maximum benefits possible. The one source that analyses and judges these criterions is only the agencies belonging to the Government, and hence it is considered a smart move to get in contact with the Governmental agency, before you hastily fill in the application form. The requirements fulfilled for approval should be rechecked with the agency, and you should be aware of the chances you score in attaining the grants and loans offered by the Government, and how to increase them. In case of the loans which are offered by the Government, you must check the interest rates, and what are your chances of reducing the interest rates, along with other possibilities of discounts and schemes available. US Government Small Business Grants These grants which are offered extensively by the US Government keep on changing from time to time. One of the most ignored or overlooked options that people consider or rather, do not consider are the Governmental grants. This usually, is the situation when one looks to pay off the pending credit card debts. There is lots of money, almost billions of dollars involved in grant money. One must be pre prepared and ready for the tedious process of applying for it, and also engaging oneself in an in depth strategic business plan, and proposal, which might take up a lot of time, but is surely helpful in the long term.
US Government Business Grants For Minority Communities
December 9th, 2009Most of the people are getting very much familiar with the term Government Grants but this topic includes several grants placed in different categories. Among this is the US government business grants where you can find federal government business offered for minority business startups and for small business development. When you consider how much of revenue is available though these small business owners and their contribution to the government then it is crucial that they should get the desired rights for guidance and assistance in their business. The easily availability of free small business and minority business startup grant is just the right option available for every minority owner. Availing Minority Startup Business Grant The Department of Homeland Security or DHS provides free grants for small business and entrepreneurs who need to start something related to the security. The DHS has an award through the Small Business Innovation Research or SBIR through which the US companies that have less than 500 people can compete. Firstly an amount of $100,000 is provided to the small business through which they can conduct the research so that they validate the commercial, technical and the scientific value of their concepts. If the ideal or concepts are approved then you can get the grants for the next two years so that you develop the prototypes. These small business or minority business grants are most often offered in the field of marine security and information technology including biological and chemical defense. This does not mean that your grant is a very large amount and you should warrant a lawyer but if it is then you might definitely need a lawyer. However when you are looking for the minority grants for women then you should remember that private organizations and government programs do not just give away these business grants to anyone to start a business. You should know that these Federal government business grants were specially designed for small businesses which make major contributions in the improvement of their community. Small business Startup Grant Money It is important that you do as much research as possible in order toe get all the right and sufficient information before you apply for a small business grant. You should however be prepared for the high end competition for you to qualify for the small business grants. This has been undertaken by the department for Enterprise, Business and regulatory reforms and several other lenders. Small Business Federal Grants There is a lot of financial help offered in the United States for the entrepreneur through the government grants for small businesses. The government offices offering these grants would want to see that you have a well established business plan and the way you intend to make profits for your business and would award you with their business grants. There are also offices and resources that offer you information on where and how you can create the best business grant application that can help you prove your needs for the free government business grant.
