Archive for Government Grants
President Obama: Insulation Is Sexy
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New Incentives For Rendering Homes and Commercial Buildings More Energy Efficient.
Ever since my husband and I have been married (25 years) we have bought, retrofitted, improved and sold homes. It was instinctive to improve our first home when I felt the cold air transfer at my window in the first house we bought.
We replaced the doors and windows and instantly enjoyed a much warmer house. After then adding insulation in the floors, walls, basement, and attic, our heating costs lowered by 72%! (There turned out to be NO insulation in the sub-floor in a home in Colorado high country. WHAT?!?!?) We have been buying, retrofitting and selling homes in this way ever since.
Yesterday, President Obama turned his attention to this topic in his talk at Home Depot. Click play beneath the video at the top of the article to watch what President Obama said (12/15/09) about the Recovery Act Funding and retrofitting houses.
Here is a table of what’s been allocated and what’s been spent to date in Government Grants for Energy Efficiency (click here) listed state by state.
Quick Facts:
* $5 Billion for low income home weatherizing in the US: insulation and replacing old heating/air with energy star heat pumps, replacing and sealing doors, windows and insulating walls, floors and roofs.
* Homes built prior to 1950 use 50% more energy than homes built today to achieve the same (heating/cooling) results.
* American homes and offices consume 40% of energy we use and contribute 40% of our carbon pollution.
Now: quick notes for help on retrofitting your homes.
1) There are funds for some Americans right now to weatherize your home. WHICH Americans? The Recovery Act funds each state for this. Each state then decides how to disburse these low income home weatherizing government grants. Click on your state to find contact info on Weatherization Programs in your state. .
Also you can look for government grants through your state in the Girlgrants’ article “Links to TANF in your state” ( go to TANF article). I clicked on Maine in the TANF article, and found out who is eligible.
“Am I Eligible?
You may be eligible to receive Weatherization or CHIP assistance if your total household income falls within 230% of the federal poverty guidelines or 75% of the state area median income, whichever is less. Eligibility for …” (for more go here).
2) There are jobs in this field and the field is quickly expanding. You can become a Certified Weatherization Technician, certified by the US government.. who then feed you customers through their programs that they fund. The people interviewed inthis video tell that they are ambushed with work and have people needing their labor on waiting lists! Imagine having a waiting list of clients in this economy.
Watch video of people who have been trained and are now working as Certified Weatherization Technicians (click here). It’s actually really exciting. Check it out.
My Reader Asked “Where Do Obama’s Health Care $’s Actually Go?”
Posted by: | Comments…. And I decided to look for some specific answers.
Got some.
Before I go into all the details – I want to go for the juicy part.
If you want to start! a business in healthcare or healthcare education and prevention in your community, there are funds for you RIGHT NOW to start your business. Remember: what the Obama administration is looking to accomplish is to broaden the scope and reach of the local health care centers. That means more community clinics, rehab centers, and outreach programs of all kinds. That means you.
If you or someone you know (and love and want to prosper) owns/operates/shares ownership of any kind of health center seeking to grow their clinic, there are grants for ….
Teacher Finds Government Assistance Services for Her School Kids
Posted by: | CommentsWell Done, Michelle.
I just had to share the great results that Michelle is getting in sharing the TANF lists with the children in her classroom. Their parents are applying for and……
Links To Apply For TANF in Your State
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Is TANF a Government Grant?
You bet.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was established in 1996 to help individuals, families, and children under the care of a grandparent, get back on their feet. Their goals, as stated by the Department of Health and Human Services:
“States receive a block grant to design and operate their programs to accomplish the purposes of TANF. These are:
* assisting needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes
* reducing the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage
* preventing out-of-wedlock pregnancies
* encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.”
The Numbers:
Number of welfare recipients nationwide for every December since Temporary Assistance for Needy Families took effect:
Year Number of welfare recipients
2007: 3,880,321
2006: 4,074,689
2005: 4,386,206
2004: 4,695,211
2003: 4,843,562
2002: 5,013,728
2001: 5,276,319
2000: 5,527,071
1999: 6,175,831
1998: 7,578,222
1997: 9,326,683
1996: 11,533,710
Source: Dept. of Health and Human Services
As we see, in 2007, the number of cases per month had gone down to just over $3.8 million, which is where it has remained for the better portion of 2008 – we only have figures through September 2008. The number of monthly recipients was at about $3.87 million in September 2008.
This is a full 67% decrease in total welfare recipients since 1996! Not because they turned people away who qualified, but because that’s how few people applied. This would suggest there is room for more famlies to get help for a while in these tough times.
There is a national number you can call for TANF: 1-800-706-8263. You can also contact your local Department of health and Human Services.
I suggest going to the sites, as they list a variety of help US citizens can get. (They even have cash for refugees in most states, as you will see on the sites.)
The info and the applications are available on the sites. They are fully informative. At the very bottom of this article are three really useful tools to help you determine your likelihood to qualify.
In as much as it seems easy to have looked these sites up (!) it was not. Unbelievable how difficult they make some of the sites to navigate. Where were the actual applications for TANF? and not just the paperwork about it. Though the studeis/data are helpful, you need to be able to find a page to see if you qulaify and then another easy page to apply. I will see if I can pull tha ttogether.
Until then, here are the links for your state. This was last updated on June 23, 2009.
Forget Government Grants? Useless? Just Go and Make More Money?
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- Image by . SantiMB . via Flickr
I was reading a comment posted to my last article. In it the writer professed a significant preference for making money rather than applying for a grant. That the route to pursue is more simple and more effective. Put briefly: just go and make more money.
“JUST MAKE MORE MONEY”
The comment made the point, “if you make more money, the income is more reliable, because you are the one “granting” yourself these funds, not some governmental body.” True. “You do not have to draw a business plan to get it.” Also true. “It can’t be taken away next year.” Not always true, but I see what the reader means. If you have made a new stream of income, barring disaster, you should be able to duplicate it year after year. Maybe even improve on it. True. “It takes too long to apply for , qualify and get your grant.”
If you are looking for an effective “pay increase” starting next week, you mostly are right reader, grants are not what the person is looking for. Here , it must be added that funds have at times come through far more quickly than you might think from government grants.
Let it also be said: I agree and cannot argue making more money is a good plan. It is rarely a bad plan. Yes. Making more money is great. I agree. Having said that, it still does not take the place of grants, nor should it be seen as an either / or proposition.
Question is ..
If you could use your hard-earned money, no matter if you made a ton or very little, or if you could use government funds to: install more energy efficient windows, a solar panel, energy efficient appliances, what would you choose to do? If you could expand your business using your money, or use the government’s money, even accounting for the length of time it takes to get the grant, which would you do? If you could pay for your education out of pocket or get some/all paid by government funds, which would you choose? If you could get art displayed and shared or use your own funds to support art projects, which would you choose?
What about making your own money work for you, as much of it as you can get, and letting government funds pay to further your education? For your art project? for your replacement windows? For your solar panel? To clean up your neighborhood? To help care for under-insured young parents? For day care for local poor families?
Seems you are thinking of grants as just money. Not unlike income. No. It’s funds to aid in the accomplishing of a goal – one the nation requires, or it is the funds to get more of what needs to be done – done – and you don’t have to pay for either.
Your Money Working For You
I remember hearing an interesting set of figures: if a college freshman put away $2000/yr for 4 years and never added another penny, nor took anything from it and let it compound until they were 65 years old, she/he would have more than the person who started just even right after college if they added $2000/yr EVERY YEAR until she/he was 65. ASTONISHING, isn’t it?
If you could make more money AND! still get the government to take on your education costs, that would leave that much more of your money for you. Enough said.
Timing
There are many if not the majority of people out there who are NOT ready for the money right now. These people are those who plan ahead carefully as to what they plan to do and do not require the funds for the change for quite some time.
Many are researchers who require the funds next year. More are students who know it will be next fall they need the funds. Art organizations require start up funds which come as well after the gallery/photo series/ dance troupe had to be well on its way to needing it before they apply. Businesses who want to expand often cannot make these changes overnight. Nor by your argument could they necessarily just make more money. The time it takes to get these grants often works just fine for many.
Need help looking into grants? Click here. Need help with scheduling your grant app process? Click here. There’s going to be more re: grant writing posted soon.
All the best.
For more info on setting aside cash and letting it your money work for you…
Are You One Of Those Believing Government Grants Don’t Fund Businesses?
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- Image via Wikipedia
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…..
CVS Caremark Awards $4.2 Million to Organizations Supporting Disabled Children
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- Image by riebschlager via Flickr
CVS grants to Special Olympics
Who is CVS C.C.T.? It is a private foundation , namely CVS Charitable trust and CVS Caremark All Kids Program.
What is their objective?
To help children with disabilities by making ways for them to play and get some physical exercise, making available rehab and medical services, and getting schools and communities on board with no longer excluding these children from what was formerly inaccessible activity.
“” In today’s climate it’s more important than ever to support organizations that can have a positive impact on children with disabilities and their families,” said Eileen Howard Dunn, Senior Vice President, CVS Caremark Charitable Trust. “The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust selected these grant recipients because they align with our mission to promote inclusion, increase access to medical therapies and improve academic performance of children with disabilities.””
Whom have they gifted?
So You Think Government Grants Don’t Fund Business?
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- Image by The Joy Of The Mundane via Flickr
Think Again
The overwhelming consensus out there is that grants are for education, for social aid organizations, art and possibly for help with bills. The point is made that there are no government funds for “for-profit” business endeavors, so don’t try. Either these people haven’t looked and have put their thinking cap away – permanently.
Think again.
If you visit any one of the many government funding web pages, you will find funding for-profit companies move in the direction the government decides it wants to fund. Two came up immediately. The first that came up today in searching were medical profiling services, something social services or community health/youth health centers can get as a contract. These centers could add to their current service and receive the government funding for adding this to their services. Not only that, these centers did not have to come up with the plan, they only had to respond to an invitation to upgrade their business, and apply.
