If you’re starting a business, learning about U.S. Government grants for small businesses can help you start your business without too much financial stress on you. There are federal grants for small businesses as well as those for minorities and women.

Since there are so many kinds of US government grants available it’s important to know where to look to get information, along with information about how to apply for a US government grant. So whether you’re a small business owner or someone who has survived a natural disaster and needs housing, there is a US government grant to fit your needs.

Here are some things about US government grants basics that you should consider.

1. Find information on US government grants that lists grants for specific needs and categories.

2. Learn about US government grants for minorities and women.

3. Obtain information about US government business grants and how to apply for them.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get government grant information about grants in a wide variety of categories

Learning what government grants are available and what the qualifications are for applying for them is the first step in getting a US government grant. There are websites where you can do searches either by category, such as the arts, health, business, and by the agency, such as the Department of Health and Human Resources, Department of Labor and other grant agencies, so you can find the grant that meets your specific needs.

I recommend: Go to Grants.gov to learn about grant opportunities listed by category or agency. Visit USA.gov to apply for a US government grant from its list of grants, loans and financial aid programs.

Find out about US government grants for women and minorities

The United States government has many lists of grants for women and minorities. You can use this type of grant to get health benefits, start businesses and finance many other services. Some grants require proof that you're a member of a specific minority or group in order for you to qualify for government grants.

I recommend: Learn about grants for minorities, women and disabled individuals at USA Government Grants. Visit the United States Department of Agriculture to learn about grants for women and minorities to use for education.

Learn about government grants for businesses

The United States government offers grants to assist business ventures such as working to find ways to clean up or protect the environment or those operating in rural communities that need special assistance. In order to apply for US government grants you need to check the specifications to see whether you qualify for assistance.

I recommend: Visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency website to learn about grants for businesses involved in environmental issues such as preventing pollution and creating technology that is environmentally friendly. Go to the USDA Rural Development to learn whether you qualify for a government grant that helps develop small and rural business funding for programs such as adult education.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  All of the U.S. government websites that have grant information also provide tips on how to apply for a US government grant. If you've never applied for a grant before, you can either hire a professional grant writer or take classes to learn how to write grant proposals.

There's good news and bad news about small business grants. Good news: Entrepreneurs can sometimes obtain grants for their companies — and, unlike loans, grants don't have to be repaid. Bad news: Most grants are limited to applicants meeting highly specific qualifications in terms of background, location, industry and other factors. The U.S. Small Business Administration offers no direct funding to businesses; instead, it supports numerous other organizations, some of which offer financial assistance. Grants from those other sources may be available to small businesses that are:

1. Owned by women, minorities, veterans or people with disabilities.
2. Located in communities targeted for economic revival.
3. Qualified to conduct needed research or undertake other specific projects.
4. In need of training, technical assistance or other specific services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with the SBA

While the SBA doesn't actually give grants, it does track small-business opportunities provided by other agencies ranging from the U.S. Department of Justice to the National Park Service. Note: Many involve grants of training or other services rather than cash.

I recommend: The SBA's Federal Grant Resources portal lists grants that may be available to small businesses; from there, you can link to other agencies' sites for more details.

Get the big picture

The U.S. General Services Administration also lists federal grants and other giveaways available to small businesses. Search or browse its online catalog by category (including newest opportunities and those available to women, minorities and other groups), then contact sponsoring agencies for details.

I recommend: The GSA's Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CDFA) has listings and tips on applying for government assistance.

Think creatively

Even if you can't find a grant specifically designed to expand your company, you may find one that accomplishes the same goal by funding a project in your area of expertise. Example: The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers small-business grants for research into 'problems facing American agriculture' in areas ranging from nutrition to marketing.

I recommend: Browse or search the listings at Grants.gov. The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs also award project-oriented grants, primarily for high-tech initiatives.

Look close to home

State governments sometimes offer grants and frequently provide other small-business assistance, such as advice, networking opportunities and training. Local economic-development agencies may also offer help, especially in areas targeted for redevelopment.

I recommend: About.com lists Web sites for all state commerce offices; many such state sites provide links to community economic-development groups.

Contact a Small Business Development Center

This network of agencies, a public-private partnership, offers free advice and other services. SBDC staffers may be able to steer you toward applicable state, regional and local agencies offering small-business grants, advice and services.

I recommend: Find the SBDC branch nearest you.

Prepare a grant proposal

Writing a grant proposal isn't rocket science - but it does have to be done correctly. You can outsource your effort, or you can do it yourself.

I recommend: Federal Grants Wire offers expert step-by-step advice for researching and writing a grant proposal. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) also offers proposal-writing instructions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep tabs on grant-awarding groups. They constantly add, delete and modify their offerings.
• •  Remember that, rather than offering cash, many grant programs offer training, technical assistance and other potentially valuable services.
• •  Read requirements carefully. Grants designed for high-tech start-ups in New Hampshire won't be awarded to retailers in New York.
• •  Apply as a business, even if you're a sole proprietor. Applying as an individual may disqualify you from opportunities earmarked for businesses.
• •  Be wary of companies offering to research grants for a fee. While some are legitimate, others just charge you for the same online searches that you can easily do yourself. If you do hire one, find out exactly what it's providing.

Making the most of US government grants means that you not only need to learn where to find government grant information but also how to apply for a government grant. There are federal grants for small businesses; government grants for women, veterans and minorities; and grants to use for education and other categories.

After you find out whether you qualify for government grants, you can either hire a grant writer to write your proposal or do it yourself so that soon you can benefit from a US government grant. Here are some to consider about making the most of US government grants:

1. Get information on US government grants for small business research initiatives and to assist childcare and other service businesses.

2. Use government grants for minorities and women to start businesses or fund educational opportunities.

3. Hire a grant writer or learn how to write grant proposals so that you can apply for a US government grant.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use US government grants for small business research projects

There are many agencies that award grants to small businesses that do scientific research and development. These grants support small businesses that want to do research in certain fields. For instance, there are grants from the Department of Agriculture awarded for research in pest management and plant biology. There are also grants meant to improve mental health care facilities and other service-related businesses that need government assistance.

I recommend: Get funding for your small business by applying for one of the available US government business grants listed at Small Business Innovation Research. The U.S. National Institutes of Health's Office of Extramural Research offers a wide listing of available grants related to health and human services research, programs and issues.

Find US government grants for businesses for women and minorities

Women and minorities who want to start businesses have a wider selection of US government grant opportunities available to them. Take advantage of the U.S. government agencies available to help women and minorities learn about and apply for government grants for businesses and other programs.

I recommend: Go to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency to find a state by state comprehensive list of available grants for minorities. Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to learn about programs that the EPA offers to women, minorities, disabled individuals and veterans.

Learn how to write a US government grant proposal or hire a professional grant writer

Writing grant proposals can be intimidating if you've never written one before. Professional grant writers can help you find funding sources as well as write your grant proposal. You can also take classes to learn how to do it yourself, and there are even grant writing software programs available to help make writing your grant proposal easier to do.

I recommend: Hire a professional grant writer from the grant writing company run by John Stoebig. Visit U.S. Government Grant Programs to not only find information about available government grants but also to obtain grant writing tips, learn about classes and workshops, and meet grant writers. Buy grant writing software from Research Associates to help you learn how to apply for US government grants.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Applying for government grants shouldn't be a hurried process. Take the time to learn if you qualify for a government grant and what specifications are required for you to apply for it.

U.S. Government grants offer a great opportunity to attain funding for a variety of projects. However, the process of attaining a grant can be circuitous. In order to navigate the maze of the U.S. Government grant system, it helps to know the definition and application of some key terms. From the grant application to submission to management, each step in the process has its own challenges and opportunities. Prior to application, most people fail to understand the entire scope of U.S. Government grants, but key terms can help clear up some of the confusion.

However, begin you begin to research the terms, here are a few key terms to help clarify the US government grant process:

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Grant reviewer

Grant reviewers are the people in charge of deciding who gets U.S. Government grants and what the amounts and conditions will be. In order to understand what the grant reviewer needs to hear to approve a grant, you'll first need to know what his or her job entails.

I recommend: Examine the guidebook for grant reviewers from The Heritage Foundation.

Facilities and administrative costs

Facilities and administrative costs are the basic expenses needed to operate a grant program successfully. Some U.S. government grants will reimburse these charges while others will not. Some examples of these expenses are project administration, department expenses, facilities and operations maintenance, depreciation and general costs.

I recommend: Review the facilities and administrative costs definition glossary at National Institutes of Health.

Grace period

The grace period is the time (usually in days) allowed after the closing date that you can submit a grant application. Some people miss excellent U.S. Government grant opportunities because they don't realize they can submit information after the closing date.

I recommend: Evaluate the general questions section at E-Grants Initiative.

Grantor and grantee

The grantor is the entity providing the grant and the grantee is the acceptor of the award. A major factor in the success of a grant is matching the right grantor with the grantee. These two individuals or groups must be able to work well together for the grant to operate smoothly.

I recommend: Study the U.S. Government grant overview from the Scepter Institute.

Professional grant writer

Sometimes it's best to hire a professional grant writer to ensure that you receive the award. These individuals usually have a record of accomplishment of receiving grant approval. While they are an extra expense, it can cut down on the headaches of writing a grant and also increase the chances of a positive result.

I recommend: Assess the grant writer information available at Wise Geek to understand the services a professional grant writer can provide.

Catalog of federal domestic assistance

The catalog of federal domestic assistance is a cumulative list of all the available U.S. zzgovernment grants available for proposal. Using this catalog can save you much time and effort in finding the right grant for your purposes.

I recommend: Appraise the catalog of federal domestic assistance information at the U.S. General Services Administration.