How do I get a business grant from my city?

The process is different for each beaurucratic entity,

In which city do you live?

First, attend several council meetings. Listen to the insiders, former councilpersons...yap with the policeforce present. Make sure to have the zoning code memorized, and make sure when you make your presentation you know exactly how your city is oiled.
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I live in what was a mayorial city. Now we have a !@#@! City manager and just "voted" by council in Executive Session an ASSISTANT. To get a business grant where I live (and was fixing to run for councilperson) you best know who, what, when and where. Our Managerial form of City government now has a business of its' own who controls all grants ie. tax dollars called the "Blank" Economical Development Corp. who decides who can and who cannot. They have a coffer of grants, loans, abatements et al.
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The big hook here is: Tell them your bringing 100 new jobs, then the realtors run out and buy all property they can and build or buy and save, homes. The Tax Assessor then runs out and reassesses all homes and oopsy-daisy, up go our taxes!
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Next, the grantee defaults! It owes nothing due to abatements; and the folks holding the "grant" money need to charter a plane South!
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Seriously, obtaining a business grant isn't hard if your plan is needed, you are a good, charismatic front man (or hire you a counsultant) and you have sat through many council meetings and met the former councilmen or councilperson. Go to the other board meetings so you have high recogition.
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On regular council meetings, speak during the 5-min. slot on some neutral issue, giving your name yada-yada. Go looking good, power tie, custom fly (old oil field expression).
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When you have had lunch with the powers that be, slowly spring your "idea"; let them dangle the bait of "Well, have you thought of asking/applying for a Grant?"
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Well, you are pretty nigh home. Good luck! CactusLil'

Try your local City Hall.

Grant Foundations:Public or Private their are usually listed in your telephone directory. You may qualify for a "Government Grant" for your business,check the web.

each city has its own rules, get in touch w/the mayor's office, ask for an application and any relevant guidelines, contact past recipients of city grants to see if they will give you advice, meet with someone in the city in charge of evaluating grants for advice or attend any workshops the city offers for the grant applications

Try the SBA, they'll help ya.

How do you know that your city even has those "business grants"?

It depends in the city you live in.

get hold of your local city Clark , they should have the forms or at least the information you need and tell you of help filling them out,another good place to see help is your local better business board, if you know some one on the city council this is a big help also,

It is hard to find grants to start a business. Unlike the myths that some perpetuate, federal government and even private foundations hardly give grant money for a for-profit business. And yes, grants mean PAPERWORK - lots and lots of it, that is why a cottage industry of grant writers was born.

Nonetheless, you can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.

Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently. But still the info is the same - hardly any grants for starting a for profit business.

Even SBA does NOT give out grants. From the SBA website http://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html...

"The U.S. Small Business Administration does not offer grants to start or expand small businesses, although it does offer a wide variety of loan programs. (See http://www.sba.gov/financing for more information) While SBA does offer some grant programs, these are generally designed to expand and enhance organizations that provide small business management, technical, or financial assistance. These grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments."

Here is a listing of federal grants for small businesses. See if there is any available for individuals for starting a business -- THERE'S NONE.
http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.BROWSE_BENEF_RPT.show

Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program

Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs

For private grants, you may want to check the Foundation Center's Foundation Grants for Individuals Online. It's a subscription based website ($9.95 per month) but their opening blurb only says that the database is ideal for "students, artists, academic researchers, libraries and financial aid offices." Entrepreneurs are apparently not one of them, so I take it they also don't have listings of private foundations who give grants to would-be entrepreneurs.

You may stand a better chance if you look for a loan or investors, rather than grants. If you are looking for an amount less than $35,000, one approach you can take is to apply for a microloan. Here is information on SBA's micrloan program http://www.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/microloans.html and you can find a state-by-state listing of microloan providers here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol145/microloanproviders.htm

I suggest you prepare a business plan and pitch your project to angel investors. CNN Money http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/28/magazines/business2/angelinvestor/index.htm has a very good article on angel investors, what they typically look for, what kind of investments they support, etc.

One other approach is to pitch your ideas where investors gather. Here are some places where angel investors come and those looking for funding can come and pitch their business plans. Be sure to have a strong business plan and describe what makes your business idea stand apart:

Angel Capital Association http://www.angelcapitalassociation.org
Angel's Forum http://www.angelsforum.com
Band of Angels http://www.bandangels.com
Common Angels http://www.commonangels.com
Keiretsu Forum http://www.k4forum.com
Launchpad Venture Group http://www.launchpadventuregroup.com
New World Angels http://www.newworldangels.com
New York Angels http://www.newyorkangels.com
Prairie Angels http://www.prairieangels.org (charges $125 to submit idea)
Robin Hood Ventures http://www.robinhoodventures.com (charges $250)

First thing is you will need to write a business plan, with projections of losses and possible gains during the startup process, it is common that u have a loss for the first couple years
Try searching google for S.C.O.R.E this is the senior core of retired entrapunuars they will advise you via email,, they are retired business owners who take intrest in helping the younger generation to start thier own business, all voluntary too, free
Another thing you can do is search for the fastrac website, this is a program on cd rom that takes you through the process of writing a business plan, If you ever want to get a loan for your business the business plan is a nessesity

good luck

Try http://www.sba.gov first.

From your city council members find out what business area your city is currently interested to promote e.g., tourism, job creation, manufacturing, economic development, etc.

Write a proposal on one or more of the above items giving a description of your idea, cost, and a time line for completion.

Find out which city department will be pleased to receive your proposal. Submit the proposal to that department either in person or by mail along with a cover letter saying you will be pleased to make a presentation if requested.

If your proposal is well written and benefits the city, then your chances are better that you may land a grant.

Happy hunting!

Why don't you talk to people working for the city administration. I always get as close to the source for information as I can. That's how you get the right info, although it may take patience and persistence.

Look to the county planning & economic development boards.

I'm not positive.. talk to ur local bank about it.

Good Luck.

buy one get one free

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