Business Grants Blog

LivingSocial and Chase Launch $250,000 Business Grants Program

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:28:00 +0000

A new program, sponsored exclusively by Chase and LivingSocial, is giving entrepreneurs a chance to compete for $250,000 in small business grants. The competition requires them to convince a panel of peers and small-business mentors that they deserve the funding by answering a series of questions that identify their motives and outline their plans.

Because the program is intended to help small firms with immediate growth potential get their hands on the capital and marketing resources that they need, contestants will be required to share why their business is unique, outline a proposed plan for utilizing the grant to grow their business, and describe how the business is involved with its community.

To be eligible, applicants must be business owners with fewer than 100 employees, and must have been in business for at least two years. In addition to submitting an application online, contestants have to garner support for their peers to receive at least 250 votes on the program’s site to be considered for a grant. Supporters can log on through Facebook and Twitter to vote for their favorite candidate.

Grant recipients will be selected by a unique panel of business experts including Steve Case, co-founder of AOL; Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes; Jason Calacanis, CEO of Mahalo.com; David Chavern, COO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Richard Quigley, president of Chase Business Card, and Tim O'Shaughnessy, CEO and co-founder of LivingSocial.com.

A minimum of four (4) and a maximum of twelve (12) winners will be selected to receive up to $250,000 each. Those with innovative ideas will be giving preference.

The deadline is June 30, 2012

For more details on how to apply, visit www.missionsmallbusiness.com

Brother Small Business Grant Program Announces Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:43:00 +0000

Brother International Corporation, a leader in small business technology, has officially announced the five winning applicants for its first small business grant program, launched on January 10, 2012 in collaboration with entrepreneurial online resource, StartupNation.

The grant program awarded a total of $25,000 to five small business owners, five $5,000 grants to each winner, who can use the grant money to launch their business or initiate a new project within their established small business.

The winners of the Brother Small Business Grant Program are:

* AARF Pet Central, Susan Leisure (Stone Mountain, GA), is a community pet resource center that is progressively designed to assist families and individuals with pet adoptions, aimed to take homeless pets permanently out of the rescue cycle. They will use the grant funds to complete building renovations, such as ceiling and light installations.

* Arcade Brewery, Christopher Tourre (Chicago, IL), is a craft brewery that creates an interactive experience by focusing its online and public efforts around beer education, production transparency and crowdsourcing design for its beers, labels and packaging. They will use the grant funds to develop and improve their website and online presence.

* Curvy Riders, LLC, Angie Bertrand (Grand Junction, CO), designs and creates custom-fit apparel and accessories to meet the needs of female motorcycle owners and riders. This grant will allow Curvy Riders to have a sales booth for four days at the 2012 International Women & Motorcycling Conference to be held in Carson City, NV July 26-29, 2012.

* Misty Mountain Farms and Education, Elle Nova (Hillsboro, Oregon), produces organic goat dairy, organic chicken eggs, and organic local vegetables using sustainable farming practices targeted to market to the local community. It also provides revolving grants to vulnerable populations of women and children in immediate need. Thhey will use the grant funds to purchase sanitation and refrigeration equipment for the goat dairy, vegetables and eggs that the farm produces.

* Sugared Beauty, LLC, Sarah Zahn (Elizabethtown, PA), promotes a line of beauty and skincare products formulated from organic and food-grade ingredients targeted to women seeking healthy and organic products for their skin. They will use the grant funds to upgrade their product labeling through new office equipment, while creating a fully integrated e-commerce experience for its website including its own cart, auto-shipment program, blog and user-friendly customer service page.

To determine the size of the grant packages, Brother International Corporation and StartupNation conducted an online poll on StartupNation that revealed the majority of small business owners (61 percent) started with less than $5,000 in capital to launch their company.

To view the grant winners and their stories, visit www.startupnation.com

Canadian Government Releases Ontario Business Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 07:32:00 +0000

Every April, the Canadian government releases several business grant programs for Ontario residents. The funding is available for all small business owners who have been incorporated for at least two years.

One such program is the Canadian Business Grants for Human Resources and Training. This program looks to help businesses in need of young talent in the science and technology fields to help them solve a technical problem or commercialize a new innovation. Up to $25,000 in non-repayable business funding grants towards the graduate’s salary are available.

Another program is the Accelerated Review Process. This is a popular funding mechanism for businesses that need funding for technical problem solving. Funding can be applied to software implementation, productivity improvements, production design or marketing projects. Up to $50,000 in non-repayable Canadian business grants (100% direct labor, 75% sub-contractor costs) are available.

Yet another is the Digital Technology Adoption Program (DTAPP). This program supports the adoption or customization of new technology to increase a businesses’ productivity. Up to $100,000 in Canadian Government grants (80% of direct labour; 50% of sub-contractor fees) are available.

For more details, visit

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2012 HSBC Business Growth Grants For UK Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:14:00 +0000

The 2012 HSBC Business Growth Grant competition is offering funding to help grow up to four deserving businesses. The 5 most compelling applicants for each grant category will be invited to pitch to a panel of judges to showcase what sets them apart from the competition.

Up to two Growing Business Grants (worth £50,000) will go to businesses using innovative ideas to grow within the UK. And up to two Overseas Trade Grants (also worth £50,000) will go to businesses that have the aspiration and motivation to develop new opportunities overseas.

To qualify, applicants must be based in the UK (including Northern Ireland but excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), and must have been operating for at least 12 months. Applicants must also provide a Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet information for a minimum trading period of 12 months, and must provide projected financials for a minimum of 2 years.

To apply, simply download an application form. On it, you'll be asked to tell us your business ideas and to make a compelling case to our panel of judges demonstrating how a grant could turn your forward thinking into business action.

The closing date for entries is December 31, 2011, and the winners will be announced by the March 31, 2012.

For more details, visit:
www.businessgrant.hsbc.co.uk/

Green Training Grants Available for Minnesota Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:05:00 +0000

The Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP) is accepting innovative proposals from Minnesota-based businesses and organizations to train Minnesotans in occupational skills, support career pathways and achieve successful job placement in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry.

MSESP, an initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, is funded by a three-year, $6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to provide training, job placement and related activities in the energy-efficiency and renewable energy industry.

The initiative plans to distribute about $1.6 million, will consider proposal requests ranging from $25,000 to $250,000. Broad partnerships and inter-regional collaborations are welcome.

Proposals must provide details about training, job placement and related activities in the energy efficient and renewable energy industries. Proposals that address supporting sectors and suppliers will also be considered.

For more information or to download a copy of the request for proposal, visit:
www.gwdc.org/initiatives/msesp/2011_2012MSESP_RFP.htm

Coca-Cola Foundation Pledges $500K in Business Grants For Atlanta Women

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:11:00 +0000

Coca-Cola has pledged $500,000 to the Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) to support economic empowerment initiatives impacting Atlanta's women and girls. The grant will also fund support programs to empower girls between the ages of 8 and 18 to make positive choices about education, careers and lifestyle.

The Atlanta Women's Foundation has granted more than $10 million to 250 nonprofit organizations since it was founded in 1986. It awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving women and girls, develops leadership programs for women, educates the public on challenges facing women and girls and advocates on their behalf.

Empowering women to thrive in business is a global commitment for The Coca-Cola Company. In 2010, the company announced its 5 BY 20 program, an initiative to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs throughout its global system by 2020.

In September 2011, the company outlined a key step in achieving this commitment through a new partnership with United Nations Women to provide new business training, mentoring and access to financial resources to women-owned businesses across the Coca-Cola value chain.

For more details about the Coca-Cola Foundation, visit:
www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html

For more details about the Atlanta Women's Foundation, visit:
www.atlantawomen.org

Small Business Marketing Mini-Grants For Women In Maine

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 07:23:00 +0000

Are you a woman entrepreneur in Maine? Could your business use a marketing boost? A marketing mini-grants program, sponsored by Women, Work, and Community (WWC), is helping small businesses in the Midcoast put their best foot forward through the funding of professional, effective marketing materials and projects.

WWC will make mini-grants of up to $400 to help entrepreneurs promote their businesses through targeted marketing projects. The call for applications is open to entrepreneurs throughout the state of Maine (specially in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties). Applications are welcomed from individual entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as business partnerships. Nonprofit groups are not eligible for the mini-grant program.

Successful proposals will focus on marketing, branding, and access to markets for Midcoast microenterprises. Past grant recipients have used mini-grant funds to build websites; develop logos and branding materials; produce business cards and brochures; purchase banners or business signage; promote their products and services at trade shows and events; and collaborate with other small businesses to reach new markets.

The next deadline for all mini-grant applications is October 3, 2011, with grants to be awarded by October 31.

For more information or to request an application, contact Jenn Dobransky at (207) 596-2616 or jenn.dobransky@maine.edu or visit www.womenworkandcommunity.org

Verizon Wireless Awards Business Grants To Domestic Violence Survivors

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:34:00 +0000

Verizon Wireless has awarded nine grants totaling $35,000 to domestic violence survivors across New York State to help them start or expand a small or home-based business. The grants are part of $45,000 committed to the Verizon Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant Program announced last year in conjunction with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.

The program is based on the premise that many domestic violence survivors have developed strong coping and problem-solving skills, as well as a strong incentive to be self-sufficient and violence-free, that can be applied to successfully getting a small or home-based business off the ground.

Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000 and the funding can be used to make a down payment on a workspace, purchase a computer or other office equipment, purchase initial product inventory or supplies, etc.

Here's how the funds were allocated:

* Two $2,500 grants awarded to a downstate consultant assisting other small businesses with business continuity planning

* $2,500 to purchase materials and equipment, and to establish a website for a designer of hand-crafted jewelry and ornaments in Rockland County

* $2,500 awarded to provide on-camera coaching and training to help individuals in the Capital Region prepare for important life events

* $5,000 to provide workshops and counseling to student-parents in the New York City area to help them apply to college

* $5,000 to secure a location, equipment and supplies to open a hair and nail salon in Brooklyn

* $5,000 to help establish a one-stop center for domestic violence support in Dutchess County

* $5,000 for working capital to help a Rochester-area entrepreneur acquire rental property for domestic violence survivors and their children

* $5,000 to help launch a home decorating and design business in Rochester

Planning is currently underway to expand the program in New York State to create or expand workforce development/small business training programs for survivors and to provide ongoing business mentorships for grantees. The program is also being implemented in Virginia.

For more info and application materials, visit:
http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/YourArea.html

Minneapolis Awards $500K in Small Business Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:05:00 +0000

The city of Minneapolis will fund 15 programs that support small businesses with grants worth about $500,000. The grants are intended to provide technical assistance for small businesses with help for planning, financial management and education in legal and tax matters. Grants also support business recruitment and marketing.

In 2007, the Minneapolis City Council approved the Great Streets Neighborhood Business District program, a coordinated effort to help businesses develop and succeed along commercial corridors and at commercial nodes throughout the city.

City resources are available for business loans, real estate development gap financing, and business district assistance such as façade improvement programs, market studies, and retail recruitment efforts.

The 15 programs getting funding through the Great Streets Neighborhood Business District Program are:

Catalyst Community Partners: $45,000, for business development and business recruitment. Area: West Broadway Avenue.

East Gateway Partnership: $34,320, for public safety initiatives. Area: West Broadway Avenue.

Harrison Neighborhood Association: $29,500, for business organizing and technical assistance. Area: Glenwood Avenue and Van White Boulevard.

Hennepin Theater Trust: $50,000, for analysis and planning for commercial space. Area: Hennepin Avenue.

Lake Street Council: $30,000, for business recruitment and marketing assistance for businesses. Area: East, Midtown, and West Lake Street.

Latino Economic Development Center: $46,750, for technical assistance. Area: Midtown; East Lake Street; Central Avenue.

Longfellow Community Council: $25,645, for real estate/market assessment and Art in Vacant Storefronts initiative. Area: East Lake Street.

Lowry Ave North Collaborative: $30,588, for real estate and market analysis and business organizing. Area: Penn & Lowry avenues, Emerson & Lowry avenues, Lyndale & Lowry avenues.

NEON: $35,000, for business technical assistance. Area: West Broadway Avenue, Penn & Lowry avenues, Emerson & Lowry avenues, Lyndale & Lowry avenues.

Nicollet East Harriet Business Association: $15,250, for construction mitigation, business technical assistance and marketing.

Seward Redesign: $42,245, for business recruitment, business and property owner technical assistance. Area: Franklin Avenue / LRT station area.

University Area Business Associations: $30,000, for construction mitigation, business technical assistance, district marketing. Area: Cedar Avenue, Riverside Avenue, West Bank LRT, 29th Avenue LRT, East Bank LRT station areas.

Uptown Association: $9,025, for business education and Adopt-a-Block program. Area: Uptown Activity Center.

West Bank Business Association: $30,000, for communication, marketing, and media technical assistance.

West Broadway Coalition: $46,550, for web and social media technical assistance, membership drive, networking for businesses and business resource brokering.

Huggies Diapers Offers Business Grants To Mompreneurs

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:04:00 +0000

The Huggies® MomInspired™ Grant Program is offering twelve $15,000 grants to help mompreneurs turn their ideas into actual businesses.

Applicants for the 2011 grant program must be at least 21 years old, a current U.S. resident, and have an original and viable business idea that solves an important parenting issue for babies before birth up to six years of age.

Judging will be based on the following criteria: Originality and creativity; Relevancy to solving an important parenting issue; Potential commercial viability; Stage of idea/business development; and whether or not the applicant adheres to the rules.

The evaluation process takes roughly 6 weeks per submission period. Those applicants accepted into round two will be invited to a brief phone interview with our judging panel.

Once a decision has been rendered, winners and non-winners alike will be notified either by phone or email. Applicants who are awarded grants will be asked to share their progress on a quarterly basis and are requested to reach out to Huggies® first if they consider selling their business.

The application deadline is June 30, 2011.

For more details, visit www.huggiesmominspired.com

Business Grant Program Launches in Simonton, Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 09:15:00 +0000

The Simonton Development Corporation in Simonton, Texas has officially launched a Business Assistance Grant Program that will help local Fort Bend County businesses that need to make improvements. The funding is supported by a portion of the sales tax collected in Simonton, and administered by a seven-member board of directors.

Cash-match grants of up to $2,000 are being offered in three categories: 1) façade improvements for store fronts; 2) new or refurbished business signs; and 3) property improvements such as lighting and landscaping. The grants are only available to business owners and business building owners within the city limits of Simonton.

Those who qualify can apply by completing an application form. Guidelines and criteria for the program, as well as application forms, are available online at www.simontontexas.org or by calling (281) 533-9809.

Applications can also be picked up on-site at:
Simonton City Hall
35011-FM 1093
Simonton, Texas 77476

Applicants may receive grants in any two of the three categories during a one-year period.

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Grant Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:34:00 +0000

The U.S. Commerce Dept’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has opened a grant competition to candidates interested in operating MBDA Business Centers in three U.S. regions: the Upper Midwest, the Northeast and Southern California. Selected candidates will receive funding to support business center operations and will join a national network of 27 other MBDA Business Centers.

The primary objective of MBDA Business Centers is to provide strategic business consulting services to minority firms that will result in increased public and private sector contracting opportunities and capital investments, ultimately leading to the creation of new U.S. jobs.

MBDA intends to award three individual cooperative agreements to manage and run the Business Centers starting September 1, 2011. The grant award covers a five-year period, and selected candidates will initially be funded for the first award year with subsequent funding periods subject to MBDA Business Center performance and funding availability. Awards will range from $225,000 to $355,000 annually.

Each MBDA Business Center is strategically located in areas with substantial minority populations and minority-owned firms. However, MBDA Business Centers are not limited by geographic region and may serve minority businesses in all fifty states and Puerto Rico.

Eligible applicants include for-profit entities (sole-proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations), non-profit organizations, state and local government entities, American Indian Tribes and educational institutions.

Applicants must review and adhere to the program details and instructions for submitting an application identified in the Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO), which can be accessed at www.Grants.gov or www.mbda.gov.

Applications must be submitted electronically by the deadline of May 5, 2011.

PA Wilds Business Signage Grants Return For 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 03:37:00 +0000

The PA Wilds Business Signage Grants program, a mini-grant program that offers funding to local businesses to help them pay for new signage, has been renewed for 2011. The PA Wilds consists of a huge wildlife area (more than 1.5 million acres of state forest and 29 state parks) that covers 12 counties in the north-central region of Pennsylvania.

Made possible by funding from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the program is designed to encourage small businesses in the Wilds to improve the look and feel of their storefronts. This creates a better and more modern looking community, and allows for more potential customers for the business.

Grant recipients are encouraged to use a standard voluntary planning guide when upgrading their signage. The guide highlights how communities in the region can protect or enhance their rural character as they grow – whether that growth is due to tourism, drilling or other industries. It also promotes using natural construction, design and landscaping materials or themes that the region is known for.

Grants are available in amounts up to $1,500, and the deadline to apply is April 15, 2011. If interested, visit www.pawildsresources.org/signage2011.html

SBA Grants Available for State Trade, Export Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Starting March 1, 2011, state governments can apply for grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support efforts to increase exporting by small businesses.

The program is called The State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP), and it will award $90 million in business grants to all 50 states over the next three years, on a competitive basis. The goal is to increase the number of small businesses that want to export, and to increase the value of exports for those small businesses that currently export.

Individual state project award amounts will vary based on each state’s proposed project plan and budget.

Activities that can be supported with grant dollars under this initiative may include: participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, subscription services provided by USDOC, design of international marketing products or campaigns, export trade show exhibits, training workshops or other export initiatives that are in line with the goals of the pilot grant initiative.

The application period will be from March 1st through April 26th. Awards for the first year of the grant program will be issued in summer of 2011. For more details, visit www.sba.gov/STEP.

Chase Gives $19 Million In Small Business Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 06:57:00 +0000

JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the world's largest banks, is distributing over $19 million in grants to help small businesses in distressed neighborhoods across the U.S. The business grants are a part of their $25 million pledge to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that serve neighborhoods in Texas, Louisiana, California, Delaware and Washington-Oregon.

The grants will nearly double the existing capital bases of these organizations, allowing them to grow and help as many entrepreneurs as possible. Additional grants will be announced at a later date. Chase says the grants, when combined with other private and government funding, will make up to $250 million available for small business lending.

The CDFI recipients include:

- Accion Texas, a nonprofit lender that funds businesses throughout Texas and Louisiana.

- Valley Economic Development Center Inc., a nonprofit small business development corporation in Los Angeles, California.

- Opportunity Fund, a lender and technical assistance provider in the San Francisco area of California.

— First State Community Loan Fund, a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution that specializes in supporting small businesses based in the state of Delaware.

— Enterprise Cascadia, a creditor and small business consultant with seven offices in Washington state and Oregon.

About Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
Across the country, there are more than 1,000 CDFIs with a collective $25 billion in assets. Their primary mission is to provide development of programs and strategies to meet the needs of low-income communities. They provide comprehensive credit, investment, banking and development services and are certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury's CDFI Fund. Over the years, they have lent and invested billions of dollars in our nation's most distressed and underserved communities.

Entrepreneurs and business owners interested in applying for funding from a CDFI should inquire from the institutions listed above or visit www.cdfifund.gov to find one that services their local areas.

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Offers $100K In Business Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:39:00 +0000

There is some great news for small businesses in the state of Minnesota! The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is offering $100,000 in incentive grants to help promote economic growth within the region. Cash grants of up to $20,000 are available to support collaborative projects or programs in emerging business and workforce areas.

SMIF wants applicants that are working on projects that will accomplish the following in the area of workforce: Engage new immigrants in the workforce to maximize the potential of their diverse assets, engage older workers to capitalize on their assets in the workforce, and increase career exploration opportunities for high school students through training and mentorship.

They are also looking for projects that will accomplish the following in the area of economic development and education: Help communities create entrepreneur success to support prosperity, grow bio-business and renewable energy to increase regional economic vitality, and strengthen opportunities for young children to thrive through early childhood development and education.

Established in 1986, SMIF has provided nearly $21 million in grants to create economic vitality throughout Minnesota. Last year alone, the foundation gave over $240,000 to 15 different organizations/collaborations. Previous grant recipients includ Northfield’s ‘Agripreneur’ Training project, which received $20,000 to help Hispanic gardeners build strong businesses. Another project they supported with a $20,000 grant was Region Nine’s Renewable Energy Inventory to compile renewable energy inventories and help grow bio-business.

For more details or to apply for the grants, visit www.smifoundation.org/applications.php or contact Jennifer Heien at jenniferh@smifoundation.org or (507) 455-3215.

Connecticut Governor Hands Out New Grants To Small Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Governor M. Jodi Rell and the Connecticut Small Business Innovation and Diversification program has recently announced that the state would fund small businesses through a special $500,000 grant program.

Local businesses can receive up to $25,000 each through the program, whose recipients are chosen by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Office.

Companies that have already received funding include: Tomtec, who received a $25,000 grant to purchase components necessary for the production of a dried blood spot slide; Fairfield Crystal Technologies, who received $25,000 for the pilot production of high-brightness LEDs; KTI, a manufacturer who received $25,000 to help it qualify for a contract with the Department of Defense for phase one of its joint strike fighter program; and many more.

In a statement, the governor said that helping small businesses access funding was one of her "most important initiatives and that it would benefit the state's economy as a whole." She says that it will help spur job growth and economic development in the state.

For more details about how to apply for the grants, visit www.ctinnovations.com/funding/sbir/sbir.php

Wyoming Approves Business Ready Community Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:15:00 +0000

The Wyoming Business Council board recently approved more than $2 million in Business Ready Community grants for local enterprises to help them with expansion. The grant program provides the financing for publicly owned infrastructure that serves the needs of businesses and promotes economic development within Wyoming communities.

Projects recommended for approval were:

* Powell, an additional $267,795 to complete the new building for Gluten Free Oats. Powell was awarded a $450,000 Business Committed Grant on Jan. 28, 2009 for the construction of a 2,880-square-foot building for the expansion of Gluten Free Oats LLC.

* Guernsey, $495,639 to construct a 5,625-square-foot metal building to house the expansion of Applied Research Associates-Joint Training and Experimentation Center.

* Laramie, $805,050 for a 1,640-foot rail spur to be owned by the Laramie Economic Development Corp. LLC for the creation of the South Laramie Trans-Modal site.

* Torrington, $499,710 to purchase and renovate a building for the purpose of a business incubator, the Goshen Enterprise Center.

In addition to the business grants, nearly $3 million in Community Development Block Grants were also approved for various counties in Wyoming. These grants are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

They were allocated in smaller amounts towards many projects including downtown revitalization, school rehabilitation, town surveying, child development services facility improvements, and a demolition of an old building.

For more details on how to apply for these grants, visit www.wyomingbusiness.org

City of Melbourne Launches Small Business Grants Program

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:45:00 +0000

In Australia, small businesses make up 83% of all businesses in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. To help foster and nourish growth, the city recently awarded $110,000 to seven small firms through their Small Business Grants program.

There are four grant categories: start-ups, business expansion, export entry, and business support services. Each individual grant is limited to $30,000 and businesses can only apply to one category at each funding round. The next round of grants will open in March 2011.

In addition to the grants, the city has also launched the Hospitality Toolkit for the benefit of hospitality businesses starting up in the area.

Developed after research revealed a poor success rate for new hospitality businesses in the municipality, the toolkit contains tips and suggestions, practical guides and information links, and is available to café, bar, catering service and restaurant owners within the City of Melbourne. Topics include food and health, planning, liquor licensing, tax and superannuation, and leasing.

For more details, visit:
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/enterprisemelbourne/BusinessSupport/grantssponsorship/grants/Pages/BusinessGrants.aspx

Business Management Grants For Farmers in North Dakota

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:06:00 +0000

Young farmers in North Dakota who decide to enroll in a Farm Business Management Program can now apply for tuition grants to assist in their expenses. Sponsored by the ND FFA Foundation in Bismarck, cash grants in the amount of $500 per year will be awarded to 4 recipients.

The ND FFA Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports leadership opportunities and activities in the field of agricultural education and agribusiness.

Their Farm Business Management Programs offer hands-on training to educate farm owners and operators who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in farming or ranching. They are taught to meet their business and personal goals via keeping quality records, making sound business decisions, and understanding comprehensive business analysis.

Applications are due on December 1, 2010 and preference will be given to new enrollees who are former FFA members and/or who belong to a local FFA Alumni group.

To apply, interested ones should visit www.ndffafoundation.com or call the foundation office at (701) 224-8390.

City of Fort Wayne, Indiana Accepting Applications For Business Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:32:00 +0000

Mayor Tom Henry and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana have begun accepting applications for the 2011 Commercial Facade Grant program, designed to assist business owners who want to make improvements to the exterior of their commercial properties using a combination of public and private funding.

Now in it's fourth year of operation, the successful program makes grant money available to local businesses to help them offset the expensive costs of facade renovations, signs, lighting, awnings, parking improvements, decorative fencing and other enhancements.

The average matching amount of the small business grant is approximately $20,000, but some larger projects may qualify for more financial assistance.

“I made a commitment to small businesses in our community that I would do all I could to help them enhance their businesses. To help them grow their businesses, and I think this is a step in the right direction," Mayor Henry says.

The deadline to submit an application is December 17, 2010. Only business owners in targeted areas quality. Applications are available in the redevelopment offices in the City-County Building and online at www.cityoffortwayne.org.

IBM Pledges $50 Million In Business and Technology Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:34:00 +0000

IBM has officially launched the Smarter Cities Challenge - a competitive program that will award $50 million worth of grants towards business and technology to help 100 municipalities across the globe. Teams of IBM experts will provide city leaders with recommendations for successful growth, better delivery of municipal services, more citizen engagement, and improved efficiency.

This new program is the single-largest philanthropic investment currently planned by IBM, which made $186 million USD worth of charitable contributions in 2009, comprising cash, technology, and consulting services.

Over the next three years, IBM will send its top experts to those cities that have made the strongest case for participating in Smarter Cities Challenge. IBM consultants will immerse themselves in local issues involving the administration of business, healthcare, education, safety, social services, transportation, communications, sustainability, budget management, energy, and utilities.

The approximate value of each Smarter Cities Challenge grant will be equivalent to $400,000 USD. Each team will comprise top IBM talent who will bring their unique expertise to the program. The engagement will be conducted in a collaborative, constructive and transparent manner, with IBM team members working alongside leaders from the public, private, and volunteer sectors.

Cities interested in applying for the grant should visit www.smartercitieschallenge.org

Sears Holdings Launches Small Business Grant Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:11:00 +0000

Based outside of Chicago, Illinois, Sears Holdings, the parent company of retail chains Sears and Kmart, is offering four small business grants of $5,000 each in a competition called "Tu Empresa, Tu Futuro" - which is spanish for "Your Company, Your Future".

Targeting Hispanic adults (who, by the way, represent the chain's largest consumer demographic), the company has tapped popular talk show host Cristina Saralegui, who recently launched bed and bath collections at the company's stores, to help promote the project.

The competition is open to all U.S. citizens and or legal permanent residents who are 18 years old and older, and who have owned their own business for at least 12 months. Applicants must be able to provide proof of income under their company name.

After completing an online form, contestants must submit a brief essay (in 100-250 words) describing what inspired them to start their business and how it helps their community.

The deadline is December 31, 2010.

For more details, visit:
www.sears.com/tuempresatufuturo

Dairy Business Grants Available in Missouri

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:01:00 +0000

Aspiring dairy producers in the state of Missouri can now apply for some "milk money". The Missouri Department of Agriculture has announced that the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority is now accepting applications for their newly developed Dairy Business Planning Grant Program.

The unique program is designed to help dairy producers in the state to become more successful. The financial assistance will help them to better work with qualified dairy business planning professionals to develop a business plan to facilitate a start-up, improve profitability, increase production and encourage modernization and expansion of dairy farms.

Up to $5,000 in cash will be awarded to grant recipients, but the grant amount is not allowed to finance more than 90% of the cost of the business plan. They are requiring the dairy producer to pay at least 10% of the cost.

The hard deadline for the grant is at 5pm on November 1, 2010, and the applications will be scored competitively.

For more details, interested ones should visit http://mda.mo.gov. They can also call the Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 751-2129 or send an email to masbda@mda.mo.gov.

Advantage Grant Program For Pennsylvania Small Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Dante Lee) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:39:00 +0000

Small business owners in Pennsylvania can now apply for business grants in the amount of up to $7,500. The grants have to be used to adopt or acquire energy efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or processes. Since 2004, the Small Business Advantage Grant Program has awarded nearly $6 million to more than 1,000 businesses across the state.

The qualification terms are simple. Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. Non-profit organizations are not eligible.

The grant-supported project can be located in any city in the state of Pennsylvania, but it must save their business at least 10 percent annually in energy or pollution-related expenses. Typical projects that would qualify include, but are not limited to: HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems, waste recycling systems and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks.

The deadline is on November 5, 2010, and all applications must be mailed or hand-delivered to the Department of Environmental Protection. No acceptions! Eligible applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last.

For more details, interested ones should visit www.depweb.state.pa.us or call (717) 783-8411.