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		You Want a Government Grant? You've got a great biz idea and all the waitresses at your favorite cafe say you can probably get a government grant to launch the biz. Logical thought, but the unfortunate reality is that the government doesn't easily give grants. But, you say, on TV ads I hear about government grants all the time! Yes, the federal government gives grants, but they don't give money to folks just to follow a dream, start a new biz or buy out the boss. Instead, they give money to state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations and those groups use the money to accomplish the government's goals. They can give grants (read this as "contracts") to contractors who can the various services and products designated in the overall project description. No Money?!? Does this mean you'll never be able to get government money to get your biz off the ground? Not necessarily. It does mean your biz will have to serve up some "guvmint" dishes to earn that money. If you can modify your idea to meet Uncle Sam's needs, getting a government contract is a way to generate cash flow and get the biz going or growing. Be Ready Before you apply for a grant, be sure you're ready. First, make sure your biz or project fits the funding criteria. Like, if you're a gift shop you might structure your application to fit a foreign trade development grant, but forget about trying for money to develop innovative energy resources. Second, be organized. (Around here we say make sure the place settings are correct.) You'll need a good biz plan and the numbers to show that what your're proposing will work. Particularly in the realm of government grants, be prepared with numbers relating to cost of insurance, other funding sources you have or are seeking, and ways in which what you propose will meet Uncle Sam's goals. Finally, make a copy of the application and fill it out in pencil, double and triple-check everything before your final copy. For other grants, see corporate grants and Idea Cafe's Grants du Jour.	Cut to the Chase We like to keep the menu simple here at Idea Cafe, so here are some programs most likely to offer help to the small biz owner. NEW! Found! Government Dollars There's a little known pot of federal money we've uncovered that funds revolutionary new products. Check it out Idea Cafe's Time-Saving Guide to U.S. Government Grants The SBA's Website Though they don't dish out grants themselves, the Small Business Administration's website does have some links to other Federal agencies that do. We show you the ropes and help you navigate the SBA's site. The CFDA A huge source of government assistance can be found at the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA). It can be overwhelming , so check out our tips first. We found a few CFDA links for federal grants for specific situations, such as research (of all kinds), foreign trade, minority businesses, & more. We give you the scoop, so dig in! NEW SBIR/STTR Programs These federal programs are a major source of venture capital for small businesses who specialize in various technologies. Millions of federal grant dollars are awarded each year to qualified small businesses! We've put together a menu of what it's all about and how to get started in this unique program of federal grants. See if your business can take advantage of the SBIR/STTR programs.
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