How can we get Government Grants to start a carbon sequestration business?

Question

Our state is perfect for carbon offset and carbon sequestration projects. I have a Senator who is on the Senate Energy committee. Do constituents simply call congressional staffers and go from there, or is there a step I should take before then?

Global warming may or may not be real, but the business opportunities are precisely like oil was back before everyone staked their claim.

I simply want to stake a fat claim and earn billions over the long haul, and ambitious capitalists would, too.

Answer 1

Yes.  You are very wise.

People & Groups will make BILLIONS & BILLIONS, of Taxpayer Money, for Carbon Businesses & Alternative Energy.

Tax Payers are going to Pay, dearly.

Get in on it.   It's the coming thing.

Oil Companies are now Investing "GREEN".

And it's not just Capitalists----- Commie Environmental Groups are going to Milk the Taxpayers for Billions.

Answer 2

It is hard to find grants to start a 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/... , which fund the research and development of technological innovation that meets specific government needs.

If you can get your business to be approved for STTR or SBIR programs, then you might get a chance to get grants for this new business.

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/CO...

"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/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