May 19 , 2003

Volume II, Number 18    

The Best Places To Get Money

We received so many wonderful entries to our “Show Me The Money” contest, and they are still coming in. I wish we could help each and every one of the contestants because they all pulled on my heart strings.

Because we can only personally help the winners and not everyone, I want to give everyone else what I consider the best starting places for finding money for almost anything.

This issue covers the best starting places for money for the professional side of your life: business, real estate, job training and education. Next week’s issue will cover more personal topics, like money for health care, kids, families, etc. So stay tuned.

Remember the items listed here are just starting places. From these sources, you will find other sources, and from those sources, you will find even more.

It is very unlikely that you will make one contact and get all the money you need to solve your problem. Getting money is a journey and be prepared to work. Listed below are the most useful tools I can think of for you to begin your work.

Best Places To Start For Anything:
We have a free website with over 10,000 free sources of money, help and information for business, education, jobs, housing and family life. Go to http://www.helpyourself.lesko.com

Another good starting place to get free help identifying free government programs and services is the Federal Information Center at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/, or call 1-800-FED-INFO.
Best Starting Places For Money To Start Or Expand A Business:
1) Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance
This is the government’s major source of federal money programs. I even copy from this book. Nothing in the Government is copyrighted. http://www.cfda.gov
2) Your State Department of Economic Development
Every state has offices that will help you for free with any aspect of a business or non-profit organization. They will also have their own grant and loan programs at the state level. Find your state economic development office at http://www.govengine.com/
3) Your City and County Governments
Contact your city and county officials at http://www.govengine.com/localgov/index.html . Almost every local jurisdiction has money they get from state or federal governments for entrepreneurs. If your county doesn’t have what you need, check the counties around you. Go where the money is.
4) Local Non-Profit Organizations
There are thousands of local non-profits and local economic development agencies that help entrepreneurs with money and free services. Some even offer money for people who have no money. A good place to start for locating only some of these groups is http://www.microenterpriseworks.org/nearyou/ Check your local library for more local sources.

Best Starting Places For Money To Buy Or Fix Up A Home

1) Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance
Anyone selling you information about federal programs or real estate has to get the information from this book. We all copy from it. It is the major source of all federal programs. Search for housing and real estate in http://www.cfda.gov
2) Your State Housing Authority
Every state has offices that will help you buy or fix up real estate. Go to http://www.govengine.com/ and look for your state housing office for information about all their programs.
3) Your City and County Governments
Contact your city and county officials. Almost every local jurisdiction has money for housing and real estate. Many have money for closing costs, down payments, repairs and even rental assistance. It will take some effort but it's worth the time. Look at http://www.govengine.com/localgov/index.html
4) Local and National Non-Profit Organizations
There are thousands of non-profits groups that help homeowners. They can be groups that offer down payment money, closing cost money and even technical assistance. It may take a considerable amount of time to find them all. Your local library can be of help.
5) Other places
Housing Counseling Center Locator, 800-569-4287 or 800-217-6970 or http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcc_home.cfm For help identifying more money programs contact the Office of Community Planning and Development at 800-998-9999 or http://www.comcon.org

Best Starting Places to Find Money For Education and Training

1) Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance
All the federal programs for education and training are in this book. Search it for free at http://www.cfda.gov
2) Your State Department Of Higher Education
Every state government has programs that offer financial assistance for higher education. Contact your state government to identify the programs in your state http://www.govengine.com/
3) Money To Train For a Better Job
Every state has training money to get you a better job. Some even provide living expenses, day care money and travel expenses while you train for a new job. Find out what your state has to offer by contacting your local One–Stop Job Information Center that is run by your State Department of Labor, http://www.govengine.com/ or http://www.servicelocator.org/
4) Scholarships
There are thousands of private (non-government) scholarships available from non-profit organizations. No one source has a list of all of these scholarships. Not even my book. The best thing to do is to go to the library, or better yet go to the local bookstore, and sit down and look through a dozen or so scholarship books. You don’t have to buy anything. You just have to sit there and copy down the 5 or 10 scholarships that are in each book that apply to you. AND APPLY TO THEM ALL.
NEXT ISSUE: Best Starting Places For Money For Your Health, Your Kids and Your Family!

Get All the Secrets To Writing Grants At Your Fingertips….
I’ve put together 3 products that give you all the inside info you have to know for getting as much money as you need. Know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, so you get the money you want. Go to http://www.lesko.com/b2cd1

Come See Me In Baltimore/Washington On June25 or June28….
See http://www.lesko.com/semjune
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Matthew Lesko is not affiliated with any government office or agency.