How does a person go about finding local grant writers ?

Question

Looking to start a local business and need help.

Answer 1

I'm not trying to sell his book, but that guy in the suit with question marks on it, his name is Lenskey I think. He has a book with just about every goverment address you can think of for grant applying. In just about every category. Maybe they have one at the library, not that I'm trying to sell you on the library either. :O)

Answer 2

Contact the following organizations

American Association of Grant Professionals http://www.grantprofessionals.org

GrantExperts.com http://www.grantexperts.com

Association of Fund Raising Professionals http://www.afpnet.org/

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/... , 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/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

Answer 3

Yellow pages, or Craigslist or someplace like that.

But be aware that to start a new business, you generally need cash of your own, plus maybe some borrowed funds.  The ads that claim that there are lots of grants for starting your own business are lying - grants are generally not available for that.  If you have a really promising idea, you might get a venture capitalist to invest in your business, but that won't be a grant, they will expect a share of your business.

Answer 4

You should put an ad in your local news paper. You can also call a non for profit agency up and they will give you some advice.