Are You One Of Those Believing Government Grants Don’t Fund Businesses?

I just read an article that reaffirmed the belief that Uncle Sam just categorically does not fund businesses. They reiterated the accepted view that grants are for the arts and for education, and possibly for research, if you are lucky.

You know, in a way they are right. IF..

If you do not have a “noggin” worth beans and do not ever resort to wearing your thinking cap.

Sorry. I had to say it.

Allow me to rant: what is wrong with your eye? It no see very good? You no see very well?

Thanks for indulging me. I feel much better.

Point is: if you want to go and wander down a street and decide you want to open a knick-knack store selling only pet rock collectibles, just because it sounds fun, then yes, you are correct. The government will not fund your start-up company.

Or if you decide on something much more savvy, you imagine just what, as a for example. Now IF it has a track record of delivering in a manner the government respects, you just might have some micro-grant help. If it has an outstanding business plan and clear evidence of other outside support, you also have a fighting chance to have some grant help. Take a look at the Estate Sale article where the micro grant made the difference between hobby and “bidne’ss”. (click here)

But to expect that grants would fund every hair-brained scheme…..

well before it’s remotely working is just dumb. If you had 800 billion dollars to dole out, would you dole it out to every person who wants to open a business without any real business plan or evidence to suggest it’s a “go” idea? Would you probably look for things that are productive, or deliver some kind of public service not otherwise available? Think about it.

I have not gotten to my main point, which should have popped out at you the very moment you ever looked at any grants on the grants.gov website.

If you have not gone to look, do so now. I will wait.

Ok, now that you have visited one of the (many) official government grant/contract websites transparently illustrating how you can get government FUNDS! for what you want, I am going to make my point. Here it is>

The US government (heck! any government!) has a HUGE TO DO LIST. Anything you can help them with, here you go. They will be passing you the ball. Giving you the money. Oiling your palm. Spotting you as much of the Happy Cabbage as you could make use of, for something Uncle Sam needs done. It IS A NO BRAINER. If there is anything that can really help ANY AND ALL grant applicants it is to catch a clue about this one simpl yet important – nay, HUGE! – point.

Now what.

I was going to say go look, but no. we are going to just loiter inthis 1 big clue room for just a oment longer. It may seem very obvious to all grant applicants, to all businesses and individuals seeking funds. People seeking funds for non-profit or those seeking for FOR_PROFIT organizations. I must reiterate. Read teh above point again. The US Gov had needs – that YOU can fill. You know how they say it’s all in your perspective? well this one situation in which trying on this new perspective may well be the one missing ingredient you needed to make the difference between no grant and YES! .. GRANT FUNDS!

Honestly, when I talk to people about the grants they are seeking, I think they do not realize how it works. If the government has tasks and you are clearly capable to help, then you are in. Sometimes, it seems like the wrong people are applying for the right thing.. and the right people are applying for the wrong thing. If it were all up to some great magician, it might just be a matter of rearranging what is asked for by whom, to get these grants funding people. Nah…that is a topic I should address another day. For now, I have a next step suggestion for you.

Rather than thinking that grants are for someone else, go with an open and creative mind and look over what Uncle Sam needs. Just relax, and consider how maybe you, or you and some friends, or your friends who have a business who upon your suggestion take you on as their grant writer, might be able to address some of those gov’t grant offers or contracts. Just let your thoughts meander along Grant Offer Alley (any of the big sites will do, you can start with grants.gov). Note down any offers that get your attention.

If you are serious about it, note the date, because some you just won’t be ready to approach by the deadline. Keep on getting ideas about grant funded organizations that might stimulate something in you. ( I will do my best to continue to draw as many different real life pics as I can) Then get together with your people who might see this vision with you, and decide (whether or not you want) to apply.

Need some ideas? Look at some of these stories I covered: 1. about a “green” micro grant; 2) about a shoe company (this is a fun story); 3) an established health care center broadening its scope ($200,000+ worth of broadened scope, oh yeah..). There’s more if you want to look.

Now: I am going to invite you to look at the 7 steps to applying (click here), to see what is entailed in doing your application writing. If you get past the fear of what a bear you imagine it to be, you might move more easily, with less dread, into actually taking a swing at the thing. I hope to contribute to that. I will continue to work on these practical pieces to make it more helpful and to make the task look less like a boogie monster.

So …. do we have a deal?