Get A $20,000 Grant From A Local Organization…
...Over 1,000 local non-profit offices offer free money and help to improve your life in almost any area. Although these agencies do get money from the federal government they also get money from other sources and as a result no two of these offices are exactly alike. But most help in the area of employment, bill paying, childcare and self-employment. The follow is a sample of programs you will find when you contact an offer near you:

•	Get a $3 grant for every $1 you save…Community Action partnership http://www.managingmymoney.com/
•	$10,000 no interest, no payment, forgivable loan (free money) to make home repairs … CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation http://www.advant.com/cefs/energy.htm
•	Buy a home with only $1,000… CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation http://www.advant.com/cefs/homebuy.htm
•	$3,000 grant to fix up your furnace…CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation http://www.advant.com/cefs/ihwap.htm
•	$25,000 no interest, no payment, forgivable loan (free money) to fix up your home… CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation http://www.advant.com/cefs/rehab.htm
•	$2,000 to pay heating bills… CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation http://www.advant.com/cefs/liheap.htm
•	Free Cars, if you pay for repairs and registration fees… CAP Agency Shakopee, MI http://www.capagency.org/pages/service.htm
•	Free Crises Nursery, up to 72 hour of overnight care and 10 days of day care… CAP Agency, Shakopee, MI http://www.capagency.org/pages/service.htm
•	Eviction Prevention …TEAM, Inc Derby, CT http://www.teamcaa.org/housing.htm
•	$10,000 to start a business…Community Action Program, Inc of Western Indiana http://www.capwi.org/new_page_9.htm
•	$700 for childcare… Community & Family Services, Inc., Portland, IN. http://www.comfam.net/pages/childcare.html
•	$350 for an air conditioner… City of Des Moines, Iowa http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm
•	$1,000 to repair a furnace… City of Des Moines, Iowa http://www.ci.des-moines.ia.us/departments/CD/Comm%20Serv/L-I%20Assist%20Programs.htm
•	$45/mo for preschool…Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc., Remsen, IA http://www.mid-siouxopportunity.org/ccr/community_resources/empowerment.html

To find a Community Action Agency near you contact Community Action Partnership, 1100 17th St NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, 202-265-7546, fax: 202-265-8850, email: info@communityactionpartnership.com, or visit their website: www.communityactionpartnership.com. If your local agency doesn’t have what you need ask for names of other organizations who might be able to help.

Free Testing of Children for Lead Paint…
… Most houses built before 1978 have lead paint. Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies. Contact your local state agency in charge of lead paint abatement to have your child tested for lead http://www.ncsl.org/programs/esnr/pbdir.htm or contact the National Lead Information Center 1-800-424-LEAD.

$7,000 to Remove Lead Paint From Your Home or Apartment…
...Many houses and buildings built before 1978 have lead paint and there are now many rules and regulations to protect people from the hazards of lead based paint. Many state and local governments, as well as non-profit organizations, have funding available to help homeowners and landlords remove lead based paint. To find local programs that can help, contact http://www.ncsl.org/programs/esnr/pbdir.htm or contact the National Lead Information Center 1-800-424-LEAD.

$8,000 for a Car, School, Business or House Down Payment…
… Over 500 programs run by non-profit organizations will give you up to $5 for every $1 you place into a savings account that is used to complete a life goal like education, housing or even transportation. They are called Individual Development Accounts and they are for someone with not a lot of money to save. You can make up to $60,000 and still qualify. To find a program near you, contact IDA Network, Corp for Enterprise Development, 777 N Capitol St NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002 202-408-9788, http://www.idanetwork.org/index.php?section=state&page=state_pages.html

Ask Lesko….
… Each week, I answer a reader’s question about government grants. If yours is selected, you will receive a free copy of my book, “Gobs and Gobs of Free Stuff”. Please send your questions to Dixie@lesko.com. This week’s winner, Lori, sent in the following question:

“I have seen the advertisements for your books and am considering purchasing one of them. I am looking for help to get rid of credit card debt and buy a house. Which book do you suggest?”

Answer: The best book for trying to get rid of bills is our "Free Money To Pay Your Bills"(www.freemoneytopayyourbills.com/pbstarpaybills1). This book shows over 4,000 government money programs you can use to pay your bills and get out of debt. It has some housing programs in it also, but for a complete list of housing programs I would suggest our "Free Money For Real Estate" (www.freemoneyforrealestate.com/rebonus1) or our Customized Real Estate Research Service (www.howtogetagrant.com/grremr1) that will provide you with a customized list of real estate money programs for your city, county, and state. These customized reports usually contain over 150 programs in your area that you may be eligible for. They are the most complete service that has ever been available for government money. If you want to test only one product, however, my suggestion would be my “Free Money To Pay Your Bills" book (mentioned above). Of all my offers, this is the most comprehensive source of grants for personal needs. Thank you for your question.

Get a $4,204 Bonus From Treasury…
… Households making up to $34,692 can get as much as $4,204 back from the IRS even if you pay no taxes at all. The IRS will send you a check. It’s called the Earned Income Tax Credit and its mission is to get money back to those who are working and not making a lot of money. See http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96456,00.html or call 1-800-829-1040. Remember…It’s never too late. If you did not take advantage of it this year, you can still file an amended return, IRS Form 1040X http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040x.pdf

Get Another $800 Bonus From Your State Tax Office…
… The following 18 states send you a check at tax time based on the Federal Government’s Earned Income Tax Credit (see above). It is usually based on a percentage of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit and can be as much as a $1,000 windfall. The state offering this are: Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. See www.govengine.com and look for your state Department of Treasury or call your state capitol operator and ask for the state Department of Treasury.

See Me Live In Baltimore on Saturday July 24….
… Learn the facts about how to apply for and get a grant. Get your questions asked in person! Reserve your seat at www.howtogetagrant.com/grseminar1