How do I find a grant for a disabled woman to start a business; that doesn't cost a fee to apply for?
Question:
Answer:
It is hard to find grants to start a business -- even for the handicapped. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business.
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.
When you go to CFDA.gov http://www.cfda.gov , follow these steps:
- click on Search for Assistance Programs (HTML)
- browse the catalog by Beneficiary
- Beneficiary type is 69 Handicapped
- you will then see ALL the grants available to handicapped
None of them, unfortunately, are for starting a for-profit business
Even SBA does NOT give out grants only loans. 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/catalo...
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
For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. 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.
Go to your local "one stop" office. The office would be listed in your state Department of Labor listings in the telephone book. One stop centers are the old "unemployment offices" from 20 years ago. They have been re-designed to serve as a "one stop" for all employment issues, from Small Business Development Centers (also located in local community colleges) to funding for laid off workers, workers with disabilities, etc. All services at the one stop centers are FREE. Also, you don't have to be without a job to use one-stop centers. They are for the employed, unemployed and/or under employed. Good luck!
have you tried looking on the net in which I'm sure you have so you should and call a real estate broker and I'm sure they will be glad to help you. if your in a church im sure they will be glad to help you.
Click on this link and look at an answer given by Imisidro.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
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