Matthew Lesko & The Government Money Club

$89,000 Grant For Chicken and Ribs! Shhh... There are no business grants

2009-03-27T09:17:00.008-04:00

Not a day goes by that there isn't some new Internet prophet proclaiming there aren't any grants for small business or that they're for rocket scientists only. Especially certain "Grant Writers" who go to great lengths to prove their self proclaimed value while telling people not to look.

Here is one example of an $89,000 grant for a new restaurant and an artist in Detroit.

Yep the rocket scientist being awarded this small business grant for RJ's Roost will be serving up the latest "high tech" chicken and ribs in Detroit.

We say congratulation's and good luck to this establishment for ignoring the Grant Writing know- nothings of the Internet and pursing a grant for small business.

Hopefully the people of Texas will also ignore these sages as their House of Representatives just approved a Small Business Grant Initiative. Details here: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6341196.html

Government Grant Scams... cont...

2009-03-27T06:46:00.003-04:00

We've done several posts on this topic and the feedback to date has been mostly positive.

Here's a little more details on what the underworld of the internet is up to:

The FTC described Jessica's blog in our video and apparently there are 100's like her:
http://wafflesatnoon.com/2009/01/10/scam-alert-website-list/

If you recall we mentioned these scams infest Google Adwords. Apparently we aren't the only people who noticed, here's a funny photo shoot of the people who are allegedly running the adwords fraud:

http://wafflesatnoon.com/2009/02/23/the-fake-google-grant-guys/

And here's a woman who got a little angry at the whole idea:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=5791054&blogId=471495587

And don't forget Snopes which recognizes the same thing we did... This year has marked a huge increase in scam type ads. This article focuses on emails however it does appear to be the same type of ruse.

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/advancefee/grants.asp

I love this article at clickz http://www.clickz.com/3633002

To be fair, Google isn't the only ad network allowing this. Yahoo also has similar websites infesting it's ad network. Interestingly, Yahoo allows it's advertisers to pose as Matthew while offering the scam which leaves the vicitim thinking Matthew scammed them. Which generates odd customer service issues when the victim sends an email demanding a refund for products that Matthew doesn't sell.

In the end, if you are looking for legitimate money opportunities from the US government, visit their websites or get down to your library and check out a Lesko book for free. Or consider buying the latest Lesko offer for up to date information and help.

The $1.98 Grant Scam Exposed By Matthew Lesko

2009-03-24T14:19:00.003-04:00

Watch this video of how a particular internet scam is being operated.

Business grants

2009-03-24T08:21:00.001-04:00

MORE Free Money Programs For Business
Here are some other real grant programs for starting or expanding a business taken from our new book Free Money For Entrepreneurs. If programs are only for a given state or area be sure to check for similar programs in your area. The programs below represent only a sampling of the free money programs available to entrepreneurs.
Small Business Grants
$10,000 Grant To Start A Mom And Pop Business
$5,000 Grant To Sell Your Product Overseas
Up To $1,000,000 Grant To Recycle Toilet Paper
$2,500 Grant For Every Employee You Have
$2,500 Grant For A Craft Business
$100,000 Grant For Winery Business
$20,000 Grant to Prepare A Loan Package For An Apartment Building
$15,000 Grant For Small Town Developers To Fix Up Homes
$5,000 Grant To Help You Get A $300,000 Grant
$150,000 Gant For A Day Care Center
$25,000 To Fix Up Your Office
$10,000 Grant To Turn Your Barn Into An Office
$20,000 Grant To Start A Business In Orlando
$20,000 Grant To Start A Video Business
$5,625 Grant To Start A Sewing Business At Home
$90,000 For An Energy Efficient Business
$300,000 For Documentary Film Makers
$475,000 Grant To Run A Winery On Government Land
$250,000 To Make Videos For TV
$5,000 To Start A New Business
$32,500 To Start A Business In Toledo
$7,500 Grant For New Landscaping For Your Business
$250,000 To Start A New Business
$3,000 To Start A Home Based Knitting Business
$700 Grant to Start A Catering Business
$5,000 Grant To Start Your First Business
$75,600 To Start A Day Care Center
$7,000 To Fix Up A Day Care Center
$100,000 Grant For Day Care Providers
$500,000 Grant For Target Stores
$400,000 Grant For Home Depot
$1 Million Grant For Best Buy
$234,782 Grant To Train Technical Employees
$10 Million Grant For R.H. Donnelley Corp.
$23,623 Grant To Sell Wine
$150,000 Grant To Produce Snack Foods
$50,000 Grant For Machinery to Make Jim Beam
$580,000 Grant To Train Hotel Employees
Check out the website for MORE Free Money Programs For Business

All of this and much more can be found in the government money club

Help To Fill out government applications

2009-03-24T08:10:00.002-04:00

Is There Free Help Filling Out Applications For Loans And Grants?
Applying for government loans can be can be a bit more complicated than a few pages of fill in the blanks, but free help is available to help you with this process, especially if it is for business or real estate. Contact one of the 1,000 Small Business Development Centers around the country that will help you fill out applications for free or next to nothing.

There are also many non-profit organizations around the country that provide free and low-cost help in filling out grant and loan applications. No one source knows the location of all these groups, but a good place to start looking is the Microentretprise Fund For Innovation, Effectiveness, Learning and Dissemination that is part of the Aspen Institute in Washington DC: fieldus.org/Publications/Directory.asp. You can also contact your local public library to help you locate a similar local source.

Will The Office Giving Out The Money Give Me Help Filling Out The Application?
Yes, they will help. That is part of their job. How much actual help they will provide will varies from office to office. If they are not helpful enough, contact an office of their superior or the office of your elected official for that level of government. For example, if you are having a bad experience in dealing with a federal government office, contact your congressman or senator located in Washington, DC. If it is a state office you are dealing with find your representative at the state level. Your local libraries can help you identify these people.

Can I See Copies Of Successful Applications?
Yes, of course. Remember anything the government does, it does in your name (as long as we remain a democracy). So when the government gives out money it is really giving out your money and you have a right to see how they are giving it out. This includes seeing copies of past applications. In order to protect the privacy of individuals, the government may delete some of the applicants personal information before they show you a copy. But thats OK. All that you really need will still likely be there. If a government office is not very cooperative in providing you with an application, you can request to be transferred to an office called The Freedom of Information Act Office. Every agency has such an office that will enforce your rights.

Should I Become A non-Profit?
Probably not, but like the answer to most any question, the real answer is, it depends. Non-profits are generally involved in one of the following activities: charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.

If you are going to be involved in one of these activities then you MIGHT want to consider becoming a non-profit. But, start looking for money first, before you invest in becoming a non-profit. You might be able to get the money you need without being a non-profit. So why waste the time and money before you know for sure? Wait till you find someplace that looks like a good place to get your money and find out if their requirements include you becoming a non-profit. That is the time to become one.

Do I Have To Pay Back A Grant?
NO. NO. NO. Grants, direct payments, and other free money available from government offices and non-profit organizations do not have to be paid back, EVER.

Can I Apply For More Than One Grant?
You certainly can apply to more than one of anything. The worst that can happen is that you apply to 12 places and 12 places give you money, and some of them say you have to give the money back if you get it from another source. This is a nice problem.

Can I Apply To The Same Place Twice?
Yes. And this is true whether you get the money or not. Some believe that there are even offices that will reject you automatically on your first attempt just to make sure you are serious. But there are other programs that give out one grant per customer. The best advice is to just keep applying until they tell you to stop.

Do I Have To Pay Taxes On A Grant?
As a general rule the answer is no, and you can always find out the exact answer when you find a program you wish to apply for. If the money is for business or for operating income for any organizations what you spend the money on will all be expensed before you pay taxes. Most free money for education and training is not taxable. And most free money used to pay expenses is also tax free. There are some exceptions to this personal expense money, but you will be notified well ahead a time if this is the case.

Do I Have To Have Good Credit To Get A Grant?
Normally credit rating does not matter. Why would they worry about how you are at paying back your loans? They dont want this money back. The government will even give you grant money to pay for college courses while you are in jail, but they wont give you a college loan.

About the Author: Learn more about getting free money from the government with Matthew Lesko Matthew Lesko Matthew Lesko is America's #1 Expert on Government Grants, Free Money and Information. He is an author, lecturer, and consultant to Fortune 500 companies. He has written 100 books, two which were New York Times Best Sellers

15,000 People A Month Get Grants For Down Payments

2009-02-12T10:35:00.000-05:00

There are a number of non-profit organizations that provide grants to homeowners to pay for down payments and closing costs for buying a new home. These grants normally range from 2% to 5% of the purchase price of the home. These non-profits obtain their money from mortgage lenders and sellers. Housing regulations prevent sellers or lenders to give down payment money directly to buyers. More than 15,000 buyers a month receive grants through this program. To learn more about how this gift-assisted sale works, contact the national association of these organizations called Homeownership Alliance of Nonprofit Down Payment Providers, at 301-941-1907, or web.

Get A Degree At Home With Government Money!

2009-02-11T09:26:00.001-05:00

Why not? Now more than 56% of colleges offer learning over the internet and you can get government money to pay for it.

$100,000 To Help You Get More Government Money

2009-02-09T09:14:00.000-05:00

it's not strange, it's the government. The U.S. Dept. Transportation (DOT) has money to give small businesses who are trying to figure out how to sell their products and services to the government. This is how the government works. You don't have to understand it, you just have to use it. If you have a product or service to sell, see if you can get money to figure out how to sell it to the DOT.

$50,000 to500,000 In Grants to Start A Day Care Center

2009-02-05T10:30:00.001-05:00

in Pennsylvania if you are a non-profit organization and want to help families who need day care services. The money can be used for most anything in starting or expanding a day care center. And if you are not a non-profit, it doesn't matter. The government will help you become one for next to nothing. Tell this office you are also looking the state's small business development center's office.

$1,000 For Students Interested in Medical Assisting

2009-02-04T10:15:00.000-05:00

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers the Maxine Williams Scholarship of $1,000 for one school year. High school graduates who are enrolled in or soon to be enrolled in a post-secondary medical assisting program which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs are eligible. Scholarships are awarded based on interest, need and aptitude.

Free Business Interns For Your Business

2009-02-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

Let the government locate and pay for a skilled intern for your company! Through the Middle East Partnership Initiative, the government is providing talented young women from the Middle East with unique opportunities to learn management and business skills while working in the dynamic and productive U.S. business environment. With $14 million in funding available, this program handles the recruitment of management and entry-level professional interns, and covers the costs for travel, lodging, health insurance, and a stipend for a 3-6 month internship. To find out how your company can benefit from this program, contact U.S. Department of State, Harry S. Truman Building, NEA/PI, 2201 C Street, NW Rm. 5253A, Washington, DC 20520

$3 Billion in Grants to Fix Up Homes in Cities

2009-02-02T13:22:00.000-05:00

Called Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants and referred to as Program #14.218 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, this money can be used to develop viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. To find organizations in your area who have received this funding, contact your local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

80% Discounts On Dental Care

2009-01-20T09:36:00.001-05:00

can be available from your local dental school. When I lived close to a school I used to use dental schools programs all the time. You get a student to work on you but they are senior students working under the watchful eye of a professor. Most importantly you get the latest in technology rather than old technology you may encounter in an established office. You can save a bundle.

Cheap Health Insurance For Disabled Workers

2009-01-14T10:06:00.000-05:00

A change in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 allows states to offer Medicaid to individuals who are working and who have a disability. Prior to this, states could only offer Medicaid to people with disabilities who were NOT working. The income limit goes up to $40,000 a year. Contact your state Department of Health to identify your Medicaid office. You can also check out the website of the Bazelon Center

$3,500 Grant to Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility Bills

2009-01-13T09:10:00.001-05:00

This program is called the Energy Efficient Mortgages Program and can be used to make energy-efficient improvements in one to four existing and new homes. The improvements can be included in a borrower's mortgage only if their total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during their useful life. The cost of the improvements that may be eligible for financing as part of the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property's value (not to exceed $8,000) or $4,000--whichever is greater. The maximum mortgage limit for a single-family home is $160,950, plus the cost of the eligible energy-efficient improvements

Get Extra Money to Train For a Better Job

2009-01-12T11:39:00.001-05:00

You may be able to get up to $10,000, plus travel money, day care money, clothing allowance and more to take a few months to upgrade your skills so you can get a job that pays more. Contact your local One-Stop Career Center to see what money programs are available in your area for training.

A Source For Free And Low Cost Dental Care.....

2009-01-09T10:43:00.000-05:00

It's not all free and low cost sources but this site does offer a database of those organizations that get funding to provide dental services to people who can't pay. You can also call their 800 for help at 888-275-4772.

$20,000 Grant To Study Abroad.....

2009-01-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

or you can get $10,000 to study for just one semester or about $5,000 to study during the summer. And remember the government cannot discriminate because of age. Wouldn't you like to take a summer off and study overseas.

A Fall Back Position...

2008-12-29T16:48:00.001-05:00

Contact your local Small Business Development Center in your state. They offer free consulting that will help you find money, plan a strategy, and help you with any kind of management, technical or financial problem if you are a business or non-profit organization, or just want to start one. You can find your local office.

$15,000 Loan Forgiveness Paid Directly To You!

2008-12-23T10:18:00.002-05:00

This program is offered to individuals attending a program of study designed to prepare them to become a licensed dentist. Selected participants are eligible for up to four years of loan forgiveness. There is a minimum service obligation of three years. Each year a participant must deliver service totaling 25 percent of their yearly patient encounters to a public program or sliding fee scale patients. In turn, the ORHPC will pay directly to the participant an annual lump sum of approximately $15,000. For more information contact the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Attn: Loan Forgiveness Program Officer, P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975; (800) 366-5424

$85 For A Year of Business Training for Women

2008-12-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

Women with the desire to start or expand their own businesses can look to Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc. (WEB) for the knowledge and resources needed to succeed. Elements of their Business Skills Training Course include financing strategies, business skills education, internet and computer use, community networking, government certification, and legal and tax requirements. Participants receive mentoring, business consultations, and additional resource referrals as part of the package. Applicants are prescreened to ensure that they have both a viable business idea and the entrepreneurial spirit necessary for success. Participants must attend 12 weeks of training, write a business plan, and intend to start a business before or within nine months after training is completed. For a year, graduates receive free technical assistance, resources, and support from staff and WEB's extensive network of volunteers. WEB also helps clients finance their ventures - assisting in the preparation of loan application packages for loans up to $250,000 and finding an appropriate lender. Cost for the full program - only $85 to $325, depending on income. Contact: WEB, Inc., 1118 Light St., Ste 202, Baltimore, MD 21230, 410-727-4921

$5 Million in Grants to Fix Up Homes in Small Towns

2008-12-18T10:17:00.000-05:00

Called the Community Development Block Grants/Small Cities Program and referred to as Program #14.219 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, this program's primary objective is the development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Contact your local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

$3,000 To Pay Your Heating Bills and Weatherize Your Home

2008-12-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

Two other grant programs for home improvement are the Weatherization Program and the Energy Assistance Program. The Weatherization Program helps to do some household repairs that will make your home more energy efficient. Linda Wildey stated that there is currently a list of people waiting for services, but they are put in order of need. Maximum household income is $14,925 per year, although they take into consideration medical expenses. The Energy Assistance Program will begin again in November and offers help with large heating bills. For more information contact Linda Wildey, Interlocal Community Action Program, 525 E. 7th St. P.O. Box 305, Rushville, IN 46173; 765-932-2863. For more information on Weatherization assistance, check out the programs at Weatherization Assistance Programs Branch, EE44, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585; 800-DOE-373. For energy assistance information, go to the Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447; 866-674-6327 (toll-free)

Scam! A look at google adwords advertisers

2008-11-18T10:03:00.010-05:00

Last year we did a blog post about various individuals who run around the internet calling everything a scam or fraud while peddling a variety of items including multi level marketing, unregulated banking scams, questionable commodity investment's and real estate schemes. This year is no different except to say that there are many more than in the past.

To explain further: Every year in mid fall, famous names and product keywords are purchased in google/msn/yahoo/ask with the intent to mislead users from obtaining legitimate information about a person or product in order to gain the confidence of the victim (You).

It's easy to spot these ads as they usually claim they've been scammed or they reviewed the product or have a special report you really need to read. Generally the websites present unsubstantiated claims, poorly written personal opinions or flat out lies by the self proclaimed "expert". This is almost always followed by linked statements of "This is the only thing I've found that works" or something very similar. If you click the link you're taken to another page/website and handed a sales pitch for all sorts of rubbish that has nothing to do with your original search. In your mind you are thinking "hey this guy saved me from buying this product" maybe he's got something real here...

In this post we'll look at one ruse that Google apparently allows to advertise on over 400 keywords. The keywords purchased rarely match what the website is really peddling. Below is one ad (out of dozens) that occurs under the keyword "Matthew Lesko":

Looking at that ad, you would think that the author has some revealing details that you need to know before buying a Lesko book. Clicking on the link reveals the website is a front for something called the "reverse funnel system" which is routinely called an upside down pyramid scheme.

The shocking truth about Matthew Lesko turns out to be 4 misleading sentences and a plug for the reverse funnel system:

"Mr. Lesko will give you information on getting grants from the government for $60." Much of the information is outdated. He never really tells you how to apply. There are many bad reports on the internet about this man. I would stay away. Please check this out. "

Apparently this person has never seen the 2 year old government money club which is updated daily, has a librarian to help you find a program, costs $20 a month and does indeed show you how to fill out applications. As for bad reports, if you count websites like this... yes there are many misleading sites with bad reports. In reality, the only report that matters is the bbb which is clean after 25 years and millions of books sold.

If you poke around the site, there are dozens of people/products with "shocking truths" about them. Including an ebook called the Rick Jerk ... Which actually outlines exactly what this person is doing:

"I first found nothing, but self promoting information. I had to dig deep for the research. The Rich Jerk must be doing alright or he would not be able to block my Google searches with his thinly veiled advertisements. (What is this guy talking about?) Finally I found the dirt. The book has been reported as a total fraud. There is nothing worth anything in it. You cannot get a refund. I would stay as far away as possible. Here is a good deal. Try it."

I read the "Rich Jerk" ebook. I think it cost me $29. It wasn't the best nor was it the worst. It did outline techniques for getting products, advertising in Google, writing websites and of course how to claim everything is a scam. Some stuff was basic but the concepts are different. It's OK for beginners and experienced google advertisers who might be looking for a new approach or a rehash of things they already understand. As for no refunds, this book is sold by clickbank and they do give refunds (within 60 days).

What is a reverse funnel system?

Who knows? Most people involved won't explain it (which is a red flag). All I can say is that it apparently costs $50 to find out how to pay $3000 for a vacation club membership that also allows you to resell the $50 information and the $3000 membership while paying $300 a month for a sales website. Some people have reported a $5000 bill due for marketing purposes as well. Hmmm... our hero/expert above doesn't like $30-$60 books and is pointing you towards a minimum $3,350 bizop/mlm/inverted pyramid something... What a nice guy.

Here's the wikipedia description of what the reverse funnel system apparently is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:WH_Coordinator/Reverse_funnel_system This description matches several pages around the internet with posts from people who apparently got involved and wanted out.

Why does google allow misleading ads?

I don't know, but you can ask them:

http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/request.py?fhc=1&ctx=cuffhelp&contact_user=other&contact_type=adfeedback&Action.Search=Continue+%C2%BB

In conclusion,

Google ads that scream scam rarely have your interest in mind and are hotbeds of misleading information. They're designed to gain your confidence by trashing whatever you are looking for. They tend to steer you towards products/services that may or may not be legitimate or even related to what you were searching for. Be very cautious of websites using this ruse.

Women Can Get 5,000 To Open A Business

2008-11-13T14:52:00.002-05:00

That is what a non-profit organization called Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (www.wesst.org/) provides if you are interested in moving to a nicer climate. It's money set aside for women who can't get money elsewhere. But this does not mean this is the only place to get money. Check non-profits in your area for similar programs.