What does your business do?
We provide a unique fitness and recreation opportunity for the residents of Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, Army Installation. We offer indoor climbing memberships, youth climbing programs, birthday parties, clinics, and personalized instruction for guests.

How would you use the grant money?
Our goal is to use our facility to provide a safe, active place for the youth of our city, but we opened on less than a shoe-string budget for our business type and are still working to obtain some basic improvements. For one, our kid area is based on a concrete floor that we'd like to cover with tumbling mats. Also, we have no heating or A/C in the climbing bay and are hoping improve the insulation to help cut out the chill in winter and stave off the heat in summer.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
We truly believe providing a better, immediate environment for our kids will pay back in dividends for years and years to come. Prior to opening RedPoint Indoor Climbing, I spent years working as a Wilderness Instructor in Montana and Arizona and found that kids involved with activities that pushed their physical and mental limits, as rock climbing does, were more focused at everyday tasks and tended to look more on the "big picture" of life, working harder toward long-term goals. Our vision here at RedPoint is to invest our time and efforts into our children today for more responsible adults tomorrow. We really believe those kids that learn more, do more. We want to lessen any obstacles they may think may stand in their way.

What does your business do?
Sommer Designs creates, designs and manufactures a line of handmade handbags, hostess aprons, lavender drawer liners and other small women's accessories.

How would you use the grant money?
I am dedicated to staying handmade in this mass produced world. In doing so, I am working with one or two local skilled seamstresses who help me sew my designs. I am also exploring avenues for publicity and promotion to get my product more visability.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would love to help students who are considering a career in fashion design, and would like to make myself available as a mentor or hire an intern interested in seeing how a design business works, since I currently do *everything*!

What does your business do?
Installation of aftermarket accessories, light line repair, fabrication

How would you use the grant money?
Set up a web page for the products to be made by the CNC plasma machine we just acquired.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Provide CAD students and new graduates opportunities to learn and improve their skills as well as internship programs with local trade schools.

What does your business do?
We are a small take out sandwich shop. We specialize in pulled pork BBQ and other meats. I also bake all the desserts and now that it is winter I cook chile, homemade soups and an alternate homemade hot meal. We also cater.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the money to keep our doors open. I know this sounds like the obvious. I am struggling as of now and when you read further you will understand why keeping the doors open is so very important.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I will continue my quest for a better Jordan. I am starting to work with the Village on putting together a 'package' for potential business owners. We currently don't have one and it is confusing to start a business here. After that, I would like to start to solicit people to start their business here.

What does your business do?
Handcrafted natural skincare products using natural ingredients, pure essential oils and natural preservatives.

How would you use the grant money?
It would be used to buy additional invortory, upgrade website listings for better exposure on the internet, joining organizations that support handmade skincare products, advertise in local newpapers and magazines

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
If I can reach greater success with my business, I know I would be helping other women take better care of their skin and give them quality products to do it with. Listening to their concerns and ideas for new products is another way to connect with them personally and let them know that they matter and that they are important. I would also like to inspire and encourage others to strike out and start their own businesses and give them support in any way I can.

What does your business do?
Internet marketing for small businesses: keyword phrase research;optimization of website pages for keyword phrases in text, title, and tags; review competitors sites; write text for pages; submission to top search engines and directories; monitor rankings of pages and re-submit; market research; and marketing plans on/off line.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to redo my website and change it to dynamic pages so I could make regular updates myself and not have to use a website developer

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Yearly I give presentations to women's roundtables in Cody and Powell; teach internet marketing classes through the small business development center; and participate in the Women's Business convention in the area. I would continue to work with each of these and provide information and assistance to attendees.

What does your business do?
Zen Commandments produces 100% original, 100% hand-silkscreened, 100% organic cotton t-shirts. We donate 25% of profits to charity.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to purchase original, branded labels for my t-shirts. I want to sew a thin branded label on each shirt sleeve, and add a tag that indicates that the t-shirts are 100% organic cotton.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I donate 25% of profits to charity. I would also be extremely willing to write up more than the grant requirements about my experiences for Idea Cafe. Yours is a valuable resource--especially at this early stage of my career. I would love to mentor business owners, especially female business owners, such as myself.

What does your business do?
Photography for portraits, senior pictures, weddings, events, pets, and children:)

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to expand my advertising and let others know that I'm out there so that I might continue to provide extra care and affordable services for my clients. I do business differently than other photographers, I actually try to help my clients get the pictures they sorely want but cannot afford any place else. I also created a wedding network containing only members who are willing to work with clients in the same way as I do so that I may help my clients further with their budgets. The common problem I have always tried to help put a positive twist on is helping my clients with their budgets for whatever occasion they've hired me for. I would much rather have a happy and fulfilled customer than vamp an arm, a leg, and their first born out of them!

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
It occurred to me last year (early 2006) that I was getting a good amount of hits on my website and that I could help animals as well as people. For each client that hires me, I always donate $5.00 to an animal cause and in addition to that I put animal aid links on my website so that anyone can freely donate as well on their own. I would love to pay it forward by donating more to the animals so that I can make sure the grant enables me to get the word out to help more people and allow me to send a bonus donation to the animals as well:)

What does your business do?
We exhibit and offer for sale the works of local artists and also internatinal Fair Trade items which are classified as "Fine Art Crafts", sourced strictly from Fair Trade Certified producing groups in second and third world countries. Our local artists' work is on a thirty day rotation and we hold public receptions for new work every second saturday of the month. We have also founded a Merchants Association which has gained positive attention from our city as a whole as well as public (and active!) pledges of support from our Mayor and Police Chief (among other key influencial peoples) in promoting and improving our neighborhood's commercial interest, general quality of life, and support for the arts in the city of Albany, NY. We continue to attract new artists and businesses to the area by exerting a positive effort towards the beautification of our neighborhood and positive acceptance/appreciation of our diversity as a community through unification and organization of merchant concerns and their resolutions. We have instituted an Annual Youth Exhibition each December in order to give our youth, city-wide, an opportunity to receive recognition for non- academic achievement while maintaining the singular restriction in participation in the annual youth exhibition that youth artists must be enrolled full time in school with good attendance and passing all classes. Our first Annual Youth Exhibition (December 2006) was a gleaming success as evidenced by the pride our city's children showed us on their very faces, the sale of youth works (which meant that they could refer to themselves gleefully as "working artists", and the hiring of one of our exhibiting youth to the state museum's youth services program, enabling him to aid in the instruction of his peers while earning a wage despite the fact that he is functionally illiterate. We are currently working with over seventy (adult) local artists and thirty countries, These numbers continue to grow daily. Ask again in a few months and we will most likely have more community driven projects in the works. Bad As Art is a unique exhibition space in that we do not require submission fees for our exhibitions or make our exhibiting artists feel as though they are renting wall space in any way. We are a sole proprietorship and survive soley based on our retail sales , receiving no outside financial support. though it has been quite a challenge to stay in business, we have survived for sixteen months and have become a fixture in our community. The promotion of the Fine Arts is a passion of the proprietor (who is herself a "starving artist") and we shall continue to strive for continuance of our efforts for as long as we possibly can. Aid in these efforts is appreciated not only by the gallery and our participating local artists, but also by our local client/merchant community, our children, the 2nd and 3rd world producing groups that we support through the purchase of their wares, and our city as a whole.

How would you use the grant money?
We will use the majority of any grant monies received to continue renovations in our space. This would include the purchase of materials for the building of addition of walls in order to provide more space for the exhibition of local artists' work. We would also build in proper shelving in our back room in order to better store and protect local work which is on rotation but waiting for wall space. A portion of any monies received would also be used to purchase a digital camera and upgrade computer equipment so that we may continue working our website which we have not had the means to update since last October. We also have a need to invest in advertising/marketing efforts, should any assets become available.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
In terms of passionate pursuits, nothing is as Bad As Art. Our mission is to enrich our community, the lives of our patrons, our artists, our children, and those of the 2nd and 3rd world producing groups that we purchase wares from, through the promotion of Fine Arts in ways which do not exploit those whom have the most limited resources yet the most to give us all.

What does your business do?
We sell primitive country gifts, home decor, scent items and more.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to help develop new ideas and products for my business. I would like to develop my own line of primitive country art and greeting cards and this takes time and money. And there are always new product ideas I would like to try, but may not always have the finances to buy supplies that I need to get them started. So a lot of my ideas sit on the back burner, so to speak. I'd also like to be able to take a class to learn some of the software I need to learn to be able to do more of my own graphic design work.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would love to start a community forum and/or online magazine for other business owners, or those wishing to start a business, in the same business genre as my own.

What does your business do?
This is a start-up company in which I will invest the grant if I recieve it.The apartments are designed for elderly and handicapped residents. They will have a community dining room, movies, their own yard, etc. There will be personnel to help them with everyday chores that are becoming difficult to do. I want to have twenty apartments eventually.

How would you use the grant money?
The property has four apartments on it now. I need to renovate those and make them handicap accessible. I could use the money to buy two of the handicap showers I need to install.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Today I will use the money to put in the showers, I have an eighty year old with cancer who will get hers first, when the business starts to earn money to support it's self I will put the money back into an account that will act as a grant fund to help pay residents rent and such.

What does your business do?
Hearthside Senior Assistance is a provider of non-medical home care services to seniors and adults with disabilities. As a non-medical service provider, we help people stay in their homes as long as possible. Our services include but are not limited to light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation to appointments and social events, companionship, and personal care. We have a social focus, unlike home health agencies that operate on a medical model. Our Assistants receive training in Alzheimer?s Disease and dementia care, aphasia, hearing loss, Parkinson?s Disease, as well as cultural competence. We offer services from 2 hours at a time to 24 hour care. The greatest demand for our services comes from families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer?s.

How would you use the grant money?
Grant money would be used to develop a picture book for adults. More specifically, as people with Alzheimer?s Disease or related dementia progress in their illness, they often lose the ability to read. Sometimes they read intermittently. Often they are entertained by vibrantly illustrated children?s books but the text is often childish and demeaning to an adult. This idea is based on what we have learned from clients and care givers. Some of my care givers happen to be artists and when they paint or draw for a client, especially when the piece is vibrantly colored, the clients are completely taken in by the work. This is often the case even when a client has been agitated before viewing at the artwork. Any opportunity to help a client feel free of fear and agitation is a blessing. Some of our clients are artists that no longer have the ability to organize their thoughts to create artwork, so we try to offer them some creative opportunities on a level in which they can appreciate it. Often our clients like to rummage and find things but don?t especially like to sit and have a book read to them. These books would come with instructions on numerous ways to make them available to a client (or loved one) that might allow them the most enjoyment, i.e., leaving a book in a prominent place to be discovered, rather than presenting it. These books would be brightly colored, spiral bound to create a tactile experience, as well.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
As always, creating networking assistance for other small business owners in my community who serve these vulnerable populations. More importantly offering a free book to clients living with dementia and their families and to residential care facilities and other programs so that people can continue to connect when they think there is no longer a way to do so.

What does your business do?
I supply massage therapists, spas and massage schools with all the equipment, oils, creams, linens, music, and everything else they may need.

How would you use the grant money?
Oh decisions, decisions...maybe a sign for the front of my store, part of my Grand Opening advertising budget, or maybe even as part of the budget I'll need to subsidize Continuing Education (see below).

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I intend to hold many continuing education seminars and workshops for massage therapists in the Bay Area, some of these will be subsidized for therapists who cannot afford the high costs of Continuing Education that we are required to have to keep our licenses.

What does your business do?
We sell t-shirts designed by us.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use it to make a couple of online "commercials". Cool videos that show my shirts but don't have the feel of commercials. A viral video that someone would send to all their friends.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Have mastermind/brainstorming meetings with people.

What does your business do?
N-MyImage Graphics is a graphic and web design company offering a variety of corporate branding identity services. We assist businesses in developing their corporate image that sets them apart from their competitors. Our designs are professional, clean and creative from start to finish. N-MyImage Graphics renders effective visual communication when it comes to your corporate marketing materials. N-MyImage Graphics assist businesses in bringing their vision to a reality, without any stress, strain or struggle, with our services. N-MyImage Graphics produces professional, eye-catching graphic designs using a wide variety of styles and formats. All of our designs are customized to meet our client needs from start to finish. Our company is like no other, our main concern is you (our client), not the profit. Although making a profit is essential for our existence. We want to make sure that you (our client) receive nothing less than ?first class quality? at an affordable price. Our mission clearly states that we want to make your vision for your company come to a reality and we mean it. Graphic designs is our passion, therefore, we give 110% to our work. N-MyImage Graphics provides high quality, cost effective and confidential word processing/typist service. In addition, N-MyImage Graphics offers a full range of tax and accounting services for individuals and businesses.

How would you use the grant money?
N-MyImage Graphics would use the grant money to purchase training software for College Students who have a desire and passion to become successful in web design and graphic design at N-MyImage Graphics. Many of our youth are overlooked, due to the lack of job experience. N-MyImage Graphics believes if the youth are properly trained and given a chance to work in a professional work environment, they can succeed. N-MyImage Graphics would like to offer specialized training (on hands) to College Students that are hired for employment at N-MyImage Graphics. Occasionally, N-MyImage Graphics does utilize the service of College Students with the day-to-day operations. We believe their passion and desire can make up the difference. Whenever someone has a passion for anything, they will go above and beyond the call of duty. N-MyImage Graphics believes our youth are one step away from becoming successful entrepreneurs and leaders of our society. Why wouldn?t anyone want to give them a chance? We feel as though this would be a great investment to help our up and coming entrepreneurs.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
As the Founder/CEO of N-MyImage Graphics, I have a great passion to help our youth to stay on the right path, by giving them something to look forward to and follow their dreams in getting to the next level, by giving College Students the opportunity to engage in on hands training. This opportunity will give College Students a chance to explore the experience of using cutting edge technologies.

What does your business do?
Create, produce, and market high-end women apparel.

How would you use the grant money?
The grant money would be used to increase marketing and brand awareness.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Noir Couture's purpose is to promote diversity through fashion. In an industry where women are constantly being shown images of emaciated women as the standard of beauty, Noir Couture works to rid the industry of this.With the grant we will continue our fight for equality and continue touring colleges, high schools, and middle schools educating the youth on the importance of a positive body image.

What does your business do?
My business focuses on massage for horses. Horses have been in my life and incredibly important to me for as long as I can remember. Horses benefit from massage in the same way that humans do, and many of them really enjoy it. Giving a stalled horse some respite from that day to day boredom, giving a performance horse a little bit of an edge, or just providing comfort to a lesson horse is what my business is all about. My mission is to help enable the horse and rider to be their best.

How would you use the grant money?
I am just beginning my business and I need to market myself. I am fortunate in that I don't have too much overhead with a building or vendors, but since I am travel based I will need to rely a lot on my marketing efforts. I have created professional looking brochures and business cards, and built a strong website to go with them. I want to ensure that the materials they are printed on are also high quality and that I can keep resources posted to my website. I also intend to put my logo on my car and my clothing for more visibility. I am very proud of the logo I created and am so excited to see it on all of my marketing materials!

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I was lucky enough to "job shadow" an Equine Chiropractor and it was invaluable. There are three teenage girls at the barn where I ride and do a few massages. I would like to offer job shadowing to any of the girls that are interested. Being a strong female role model is very important to me and something I always strive to improve.

What does your business do?
I capture "moments" in peoples lives (births, anniversaries, retirements, etc) through assemblages of photos and memorabilia into works of fiber art. My goals include creating other products that people will find memorable and fun in their lives which can be produced on a larger scale that the special commission work I am doing now.

How would you use the grant money?
I am developing a line of fabric character toys for pre-school children. Hue and his friends draw on the natural attraction children have to shapes and color which fosters moments of fun and free play. No batteries needed. Only the imagination of the child fuels the fun. I have the resources to create the prototypes, but am requesting the grant money to help get them to the marketplace through brochures and one-to-one marketing.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Over the years as an artist and gallery owner I have encouraged and mentored a number of artists. I would continue to mentor and share the knowledge I have gained with other small business owners. Specifically, I would give one-to-one and/or group sessions on my experiences developing a line of products.

What does your business do?
We sell handmade, unique stationery made in Zimbabwe, South Africa. Items like photo frames, journals, albums and bookmarks are all made with a time honored process called "mapepa"; this means papermaking. We also make locally made blank notecards with an Afrocentric theme.

How would you use the grant money?
A. Find a office/warehouse space from which to operate (approx 1000 sq. ft) B. Stabilize my inventory levels of imported products, locally made cards,supplies and packing mat'ls. C. Create aggresive marketing campaign that includes blast emails, completion of my website, becoming a vendor at several summer arts and craft fairs in Northern CA.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
With the purchase of the handmade products from Africa, a customer helps the villages and the communities that makes the items become self sufficient. In may ways, this paper making process is the only way to survive. Plus, DMWS Marketing plans to donate a percentage of its total sales of these products back to the villages annually.DMWS Marketing also has a news page on its website, a "what's happening at DMWS Marketing" type of format. We are going to invite small businesses and start ups to advertise on our page.This will be done as a drawing, with the winner advertising for three months free. In this way, businesses with small advetising budgets or little or no Internet prescence can reach a world wide auience.

What does your business do?
I provide support and inspiration to people who are taking the road less traveled. I offer coaching services and information products ranging from a free eZine and audio programs that can be purchased from my web site.

How would you use the grant money?
I am developing an audio product called Postcards from the Road Less Traveled which features a series of interviews with people who have made daring changes in their career and/or lives. These stories provide inspiration and real life strategies for others who wish to make transitions that may seem crazy to other people. I would use the money to support the technical side of this development.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I feel strongly about offering free resources to people who are in my community of interest -- in this case keeping the teleseminars free for people who are making life/career changes -- so they do not feel isolated in their journey. Also, I have always planned to give a percentage of my product profit to the Dream Foundation, the only organization who grants dreams to terminally ill adults (www.dreamfoundation.org.) This audio product is among a few that I'm working to launch that will have the dual impact of providing additional streams of income for my business and enabling me to donate to the Dream Foundation. I am also happy to provide the updates and learnings to other small business owners, as I navigate the new territory of creating my audio product.

What does your business do?
We manufacture and install signs of all kinds as well as vehicle lettering and graphics.

How would you use the grant money?
I need a new print head for my graphic printer.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I will help spread the word and all the knowledge of past mistakes I have made to insure other's don't make the same.

What does your business do?
FreeLance Entertainment, Inc. is a multidimensional company committed to providing entertainers across all genres and independent entertainment companies with absolute freedom and empowerment. FreeLance aims to turn people with talent into talented business people. The sole reason for FreeLance's existence is to enable and empower talented, passionate entertainers and dedicated independent organizations to completely "take control of their careers." FreeLance Entertainment, Inc. revolutionizes the entertainment industry by providing independent entertainers and organizations with resources that are usually reserved for major acts and entertainment companies, such as access to quality recording and mastering studios, graphic designers, distributors, publishers, performance venues, accountants, marketing/promotions, management, etc. FreeLance not only provides management, marketing & promotions, public relations, and administrative services to clients, but also creates a Network of Resources so that entertainers and organizations can collaborate with each other and leave the billing and monetary responsibilities up to FreeLance.

How would you use the grant money?
The grant money would be used to create a buzz about FreeLance Entertainment, Inc. and our services. This would be done through the creation of informational packets mailed to entertainers and organizations that could possibly benefit from our services. The money would also be used to sponsor one or two informational workshops hosted by an entertainment attorney and/or a certified public accountant. This workshop(s) would not only be educational and beneficial for entertainers/organizations, but would also provide FreeLance Entertainment with the opportunity to present itself to potential clients. This money would aid in the company getting off the ground by exposing it to potential entertainers and organizations that are in need of resources readily available for major acts and entertainment companies.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
In order to "pay it forward," my intention is to work with high school and college students in order to educate them about the music industry and the importance of the arts. FreeLance Entertainment wishes to bring on at least two interns in the fall/winter to learn about the music business and to teach them about the importance of independent entertainers taking control of their careers. The idea is that these interns will benefit from hands on training, workshops, and directly working in the entertainment field. The entertainment industry and the arts are a very important aspect of society and humanity as a whole. Hopefully implanting this seed in the youth of tomorrow will change the industry that is currently being managed by emotionless organizations with tunnel vision geared strictly toward profit, instead of talent, entertainment and an appreciation for the arts.

What does your business do?
My business is a web based business which sells custom built fly rods, rod components, fishing books and DVDS. My goal is to develop the concept that fishing is an activity which the whole family can do together. I will eventually expand to include other outdoor sports such as hunting.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money for two things. First, I would use it to build up more inventory to meet more of my customers needs. Second, I would use part of the money to publish my web page to the Internet. My kids and I designed the web page together so it would give them a sense of pride to see it on the web. This would in turn allow my company to avoid eBay fees thereby increasing my profits. I could reinvest the money I save into more inventory.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
There isn't any doubt in my mind as to how I will "pay it forward". I live in an economically depressed area. Huntingdon County has a high unemployment and welfare rate. When I am successful and have a clear understanding of starting and running a business, I would like to become a business mentor at the area's business development center. Being on welfare once myself, I would like to be a role model to others by helping them to realize that government assistance is not a lifelong cycle. I would love to make a difference to others.

What does your business do?
We offer pure, unheated honey made right here in the United States! Our honey is extracted by hand from individual hives. Each bottle is marked with the originating hive.

How would you use the grant money?
The grant money would be used to buy an electric extractor and uncapping knife. Currently we are borrowing a two-frame hand-crank extractor, and using kitchen forks to uncap the frames. We would also like to buy a used microscope to identify pollens.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
We have already launched an "Adopt-a-Hive Project" on our web site, where schools or other groups can adopt a special hive and receive newsletters over the course of the season and honey at the end of the season. We would also like to invite school children about the honeybee and its importance to the planet and to our own well-being. Another dream of ours is to eventually have a "hive scholarship" for young beekeeper newbies to help them buy the expensive equipment needed to raise honeybees.

What does your business do?
Designs custom "Hair art" ponytail holders for girls with a focus on girls teams. We promote wholesome beauty in young girls. We support keeping girls active by supporting their athletic team. We also are forming a junior advisory group to help support the local girls clubs and educate young women on business ownership.

How would you use the grant money?
The majority of the funds would be used to purchase basic supplies and for marketing. I cannot grow the business as I have exhausted my own limited funds. I also plan on using some of the funds to employee a few girls in the community for limited after school hours and summer employment to assist in design and production. If any funds are left I would to expand on the Jr Advisory group to help Ponee Tailz keep abreast of the current hair accessory trends in young girls market.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would not only provide monitary assistance but help others by giving knowledge I have aquired in my journey. I would be willing to offer my assistance in any way needed.

What does your business do?
My business is two-fold. Benjabear?s Boutique is an online consignment boutique which sells household and business items, for individuals and businesses, via online auctions. I will also maintain a separate inventory for resale purchased via wholesale vendors. Benjabear?s Boutique is the funding arm for The Career Detective. A percent of the profits from Benjabear?s Boutique will be used to fund the continued growth and production of products and services for The Career Detective. The Career Detective is a career exploration and counseling service geared to homeschooling and alternatively educated youth and their families. I am a career counselor by trade, and the aim of The Career Detective is to empower youth to begin the career exploration process. Utilizing tools such as personal assessments, workbooks, and career analysis reports, they will learn how to create their own career paths by exploring their inner motivations, passions, and personalities. They will also learn how to research and identify the different options available, and what education and/or experience is required to achieve their career goals. The Career Detective will initially concentrate on product sales and career counseling services as mentioned above, yet will also remain proactive with the development of future products and services such as workshops, books, classroom curriculum, and speaking engagements. Because The Career Detective is geared mainly toward children and teens, the primary focus will be career exploration vs. career counseling. I have an eBay store for Benjabear's Boutique (the site url is below). I do not have a website yet for The Career Detective.

How would you use the grant money?
Approximately $600 of the grant money will be used as a start-up investment for The Career Detective. More specifically, it will be used to fund the initial production of the career exploration workbook, & will cover the cost of printing and binding. It will also help toward the cost of printing business cards and brochures, and advertising in the California Home school Network?s directory for the August, 2007, Expo, at which I am scheduled to speak. The balance of the grant money will be used to purchase inventory for Benjabear?s Boutique.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
About five years ago, I created a website called Home-Based Work Solutions for Moms. It was a resource site dedicated to the ?ABC?s? of starting a home-based business. About six months ago, in the midst of site renovations, I changed hosting companies. During the switch from one host to the other, my site was ?lost in cyberspace.? I was very lucky because some of my pages were still cached through Google, & I saved those pages onto my hard drive. I plan on re-creating the website with a new twist. It will still include all the resources and content that it had before, but I will add a new career exploration and counseling section dedicated to helping moms, who want to work from home, find & start the right business to fit their lifestyle and financial needs. In other words, a career exploration and counseling service, that is similar to The Career Detective. However, while The Career Detective?s primary focus is on career exploration for children and teens, Home-Based Work Solutions for Moms, will add more assessment and counseling services, and of course, focus on helping moms find their passion, start their own business, and help them reach their goals. I just completed (graduation day was May 19, 2007) a 14 week self-employment training program through Women?s Economic Ventures (http://www.wevonline.org), a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara, CA. I will use the knowledge I gained from this program not only to achieve my own business goals, but to help other moms achieve their business goals as well.

What does your business do?
We use old world skills and craftsmanship to create beautiful custom products that actually match a person's personality AND lifestyle. This may not seem very inventive, but, what we've found is that most mass produced products don't actually think about longevity or individual usefulness - they focus on what can be produced quickly with the least amount of cost involved and would be at least partially useful to the widest variety of people.

How would you use the grant money?
I would put the money toward a special piece of equipment (a hand pump sewing machine specifically for thick full grain leather) that would speed up our production time without sacrificing quality on longevity.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I will do a few things: 1) I will bring on a few more apprentices to learn the craft and art behind the business. This has helped previous apprentices expand their artistic horizons and given them valuable skills that they can take on in their future careers - whether it's in our industry or a new industry. 2) Hire more artists to expand the business further. Every artist has his or her own style - by expanding the business, we can bring in more artists - teach them what we do - and give them the opportunity to express themselves in new and different ways.

What does your business do?
We are a retail business selling knives,swords, clothing, shoes, novelties,jewelry, metaphysical supplies and more. We are geared toward the alternative community (Goth, Pagan, Anime, renaissance, etc). Boise has a growing and thriving alternative community, contributing to much- needed diversity here. It is also a destination for outlying communities, since Boise is the largest city within several hundred miles.

How would you use the grant money?
We've had requests for lines of clothing that are unavailable anywhere else in Boise. These companies require a large minimum order. To commit to carrying these lines of clothing, we would need to be able to have a variety of sizes and styles.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
We have already established ourselves and our company as more than willing to help others. Last winter we donated over 50 pairs of Thinsulate gloves to a local men's shelter. We've donated clothing to the women's shelter. We support the Boise Police charities, and we've also donated clothing to individuals who have lost everything due to fire or other loss. Personally,my husband and I have been involved in numerous food drives for the local shelters, and have personally delivered boxes of food to them, with no "middle man." We would love to be able to do much more to help in this community; one of our dreams is to be well-enough off that we could open our own food bank.

What does your business do?
Encourage consumers to buy locally owned through membership perks.

How would you use the grant money?
I need help creating and implementing a marketing strategy that not only encourages small locally owned businesses in central Iowa to join the network (which is free to them) but spreads the message to consumers that the memberships help them providing access to locally owned merchants offering thank you perks and help their community (support locall owned to keep our city a unique place to live).

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Share my experience via my blog, via podcasts, through press releases, etc.

What does your business do?
My company specializes in developing marketing, strategic, and development communications that build community awareness, brand equity, and financial sustainability for nonprofit organizations and entrepreneurial businesses.

How would you use the grant money?
I would utilize the grant to help jumpstart a new business line of products, beginning with customized children's books and coloring books, each designed to help nonprofit organizations gain greater community awareness and financial support for their missions. These items, customized to each organization's mission focus, could be handed out at community events or sold as a fundraiser. The product line would be available for purchase online, with printing and shipping on demand.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
In addition to directly assisting nonprofit organizations in the pursuit of their missions, I would be delighted to share my story and any insights gained through the process with the innovative thinkers on Idea Cafe and the passionate implementers within the companies I serve each day.

What does your business do?
It sells everything that it finds that is valuable and also new merchandise.

How would you use the grant money?
I would purchase a machine that takes electroplating off objects. There are lots of old objects in a lot of places that have precious metals and I want to get the machine that takes the precious metal off which costs about $500 for the complete package.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would like to be able to afford to give back to another new business owner from idea cafe with a money grant for them someday.

What does your business do?
Custom cowboy hats! Hair-on hide topping the brim, brim cutout designs, Swarovski crystals and leather lacing. Noting the name, we also make fun stuff out of critter hides like white rabbit fuzzy dice with large black Swarovski crystals for the dots. Saddle medicine bags and a lot of one-of-a-kind items.

How would you use the grant money?
Advertising!

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Part of the checkout process includes "Change for a Change" where customers can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar (or more!) and I will make a quarterly contribution to the charity organization listed for that quarter. I prefer to donate to Christian charities but will, of course, donate to any immediate need. For example, hurricane Katrina victims.

What does your business do?
Work with non-profit agencies to help them build their capacities and be more susstainable. This includes fund raising, grant research, board training and education, organizational and program evaluation, strategic planning, organizational structure.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to advertise my business so that I could reach more of the small to medium sized not-for-profit organizations. I would finish my website, publish and print brochures, join the local chamber of commerce and advertise in the newspaper.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I want to start a community intiative to partner groups together so that they can share a volunteer base for fundraising, volunteer drives and support the missions they have set out for themselves.

What does your business do?
Double Dutch is a digital magazine for multi-cultural girls ages 12 to 17. It is an urban magazine that will target girls, who are African-American, Hispanic American and Asian American. The magazine will be formatted the same as a traditional print magazine, but will be in a digital format. It will conveniently delivered to the email boxes of teen girls. The mission of Double Dutch magazine is to give girls the confidence that they can succeed in life despite their circumstances. Topics to be covered in Double Dutch include study skills, college application process, entertainment, beauty, fashion, starting a business and personal relationships with friends and family.

How would you use the grant money?
Double Dutch magazine would utilize the grant money in the following ways: Photoshoot Expenses $300 Marketing & Advertising: media kit, flyers, other promotion materials $200 Yudu.com Formatting Double Dutch into a Digital Magazine $500

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would like to ?pay it forward? by helping pregnant women and moms with babies realize their dreams of starting a business. I?ve learned first-hand that it takes a lot of time management skills, patience and chutzpah (courage). It?s definitely challenging to start a business in the midst of morning sickness, changing diapers and a teething baby, but it?s not impossible! I?ve learned that I can make a lot of progress with my business with as little as 15 minutes a day of work or as much as 60 minutes. I would like to inspire moms to make small steps toward a big goal.

What does your business do?
Give working family caregivers time for self, balance emotional & physical stress, and balance family resonsibilites through elder care resources, services, products & networking.

How would you use the grant money?
Continue building site for ease of use and create internet marketing plan.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
My site helps family caregivers find time for themselves and balance emotional and physical stress. At WorkingCaregiver.com we continue to thrive on helping them find solutions that give them their life back. Thank you, Carol Marak

What does your business do?
Our service is that we host "Shoe Parties" at your home, office, or venue of your choice. We are basically traveling shoe store. We bring the store to you. Its a great way to hang out with the girls and other shoe lovers.

How would you use the grant money?
I would use the grant money to purchase some (stock) for my shoes parties. I would also pay my mother a small portion of the money since she has been working very hard with NO PAY since I began in 2006. She deserves it, she has put in numerous hours helping at the parties and researching.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
My goal is to one day give back to the community by hosting a "Self Esteem Fashion Camp" for girls for two weeks in the summer months. The camp will teach girls everything a about dressing up for different events, etiquette classes, and self esteem and proper fitness and nuitrition.

What does your business do?
Produce and distribute alternative energy, namely Biodiesel fuel. Our plan as start up will be a mobile delivery service, to provide this San Antonio and Texas area, which is not readily exposed to any alternative fuel sources, the alternative fuel that will soon help the population of the country save our environment now.

How would you use the grant money?
We would buy our the biodiesel container tank able to hold 500 gals., which myself and my partner will use to convert a school bus into a mobile delivery and exhibition vehicle. This will only be the first, and be used to go to different events in our area and educate people about alternative fuels and how readily available it already is.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
We are only going to be some amount in the cause for our community (country) to become more clean fuel users. Our main goal is to get other businesses involved, developers of alternative energy mechanisms or other inventions. We would get these other small and established businesses involved by spreading the word that they exist and can provide things that we can not. We are already in contact with Jason Rose of Alamo Biodiesel who we plan to be our main supplier.

What does your business do?
We are party and print innovators who specialize in custom party supplies and printing.

How would you use the grant money?
We need a ribbon and mug imprinting machine.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
Encourage other entrepreneurs by being informative, providing positive imput and sharing strategies in different areas of business as I know from my experience.

What does your business do?
Sports photography, graphic design & custom designed apparel

How would you use the grant money?
I would the grant for many purposes to maximize such a gift. I plan on producing a small billboard for my truck that would be placed in the bed with my company name, logo, services, contact info and website address. It would be collapsible for storms and high winds. This idea is similar to the roving billboard trucks you see in big cities, just on a smaller scale. For sports photography, I am currently contacting parents by e-mail through the booster groups or handing out flyers or business cards at events. For races, I have flyers printed up and placed in to race packets in cooperation withe race organizers. But I have no way of, except for word-of-mouth to let people or businesses know about my graphic design or apparel aspects of my business. Part of the grant would also be used for an advertising and marketing campaign to small town shops and stores in Texas that would buy my shirt designs in bulk and resell in their stores. There are many small towns in Texas that are shopping or "antique centers" where tourists go to buy small town goods. Going directly to the chambers of commerce or store owners organizations in these small towns is a great way to hit many business at once without spending much.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I would utilize my photography, graphic design services and 12 years of printing knowledge to help others get their businesses moving forward. I have found many good resources on the internet in regards to building your business. I have also found many ways with which new biz owners can get the word out. Many people outside of printing would not know about gang running print jobs ( adding your business cards or other artwork on to an already existing print run) to save money. Or the many "cheap" printers out there. There are many reputable ones, but these companies will not hand hold anyone and final "going to press" artwork must be perfect. I could help newbies with print or graphics consultations.

What does your business do?
VentureWalk Business Partners helps businesses navigate through the process of rebuilding, recovery, and reinventing themselves post disaster including fires, hurricanes, and the like. Specifically, I assist business owners with resources for funding, marketing strategies, and implementation to maximize their results. My primary target is presently the Gulf Coast, especially Louisiana, as my practice is based outside of New Orleans.

How would you use the grant money?
Business owners in the Gulf Coast need local assistance with getting back on the road to success. My goal is to first teach personal responsibility and interdependence on a network versus dependence on federal, state, and city resources alone. My second goal is to equip business owners with the information, tools and resources for building, or rebuilding, sustainable businesses. My third goal is to encourage these businesses to 'pay it forward' or turn around and invest in their community including other businesses that are not as far along as themselves. I would use the grant money to get technology resources, including software, to develop an on-going electronic newsletter (information in written form sent via email), podcast (similar to an on-line radio station where people can listen on their ipod or through their computer), and host tele-seminars(training, classes, seminars via phone)to reach businesses where they are! Specifically, I would enlist and subscribe to an email program to keep email lists and send out electronic newsletters (Approx. $20/month). Next, I would purchase a DVR along with a quality microphone and the necessary software to produce my own in-home podcasting studio (approx. $300). Lastly, I would burn all teleclasses onto CD's to send to participants so that they can keep in their library (approx. $1.50/CD) Many are unable to make travel commitments and mail in some areas is still unreliable. Therefore, via this media I will - train business owners - communicate up-to-the minute information on resources and real news concerning rebuilding and thriving in this post-Katrina market - start a virtual community where I can coach business owners and allow them to forge relationships and a 'strong network' of people like themselves.

How will you "pay it forward" to help others in some way?
I will continue to offer services like these for free to business owners struggling to bounceback after disaster