$100,000 If You Like To Write….
…… 3,500 words that “address personal reflections, journalist report and scientific inquiry, as well as essays which are purely fiction.” There will be 19 winners sharing $500,000 It is sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation at www.powerofpurpose.org.

A $100,000 Grant Went To A Company Called TV One…
… . a newly launched cable company operating in Silver Spring, Md. They got this money from the Montgomery Country Department of Economic Development at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/ded/index.asp. They also received a $75,000 grant from the state office of economic development and another $75,000 grant from the state to train their employees. In addition they received another $150,000 in grant money from the State of Maryland http://www.choosemaryland.org/business/index.asp.

Free Tax-Preparation Software and Free Electronic Filing….
…… is available from 16 financial firms for 78 million taxpayers. See if you are one at www.irs.gov.

$20,000 For African-American Entrepreneurs Under 30….
…… .is available from the Miller Brewing Company. Every year they give out 6 grants at $20,000 each and 12 more at $2,500 each. One of the grant awardees last year was April Patrick of April Films in New York. Check it out at www.aprilfilms.net. Her business looks fun. Watch for this years’ application by going to
http://www.millerbrewing.com/inthecommunity/urban/businessGrant.asp.

Easy Isn’t Fun….
… why are we always trying to make life easy? Why do we want everything we do to be easy? I think it is because we don’t like what we are doing. If you like what you are doing, harder is better. If you liked to play tennis, would you want to play against a 7 year old you can easily beat? Wouldn’t you rather play against someone who is difficult to beat and finally figure out a way to beat them? Hard is a lot more fun than easy. So find something you like to do and you will enjoy working hard at it. You will get better at it because you are willing to work hard, and you’ll have more fun.

Get Paid To Save For Your New Business….
…… .Have a great idea and want to turn it into a successful business in the future? Capital Area Asset Building can double a client’s money, enabling a swifter transition from idea to money-maker. The nonprofit specializes in establishing individual development accounts (IDAs) for lower income Washington DC residents. IDAs are matched savings accounts –every dollar deposited by a participant is matched by the organization. One of the approved purposes of the account is starting a new business or microenterprise. Contact: Capital Area Asset Building Corporation, 1801 K Street, NW, Suite M100, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202-419-1440; fax: 202-419-1447 http://www.caab.org.

Big Help for Small Businesses in Baltimore….
…… The Community Lending Group empowers low-income individuals, minorities and women looking to start a business in Baltimore through its flexible and innovative Empowerment Zone Microenterprise Loan Program. The program is fueled by a $100 million grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that aims to stimulate business and job opportunities within designated empowerment zones. The Community Lending Group provides loans of up to $50,000 at below market interest rates. Entrepreneurs, business owners and other individuals who want to expand or develop their existing or proposed business operations within Baltimore City are eligible. The program also provides technical and educational assistance to participating business owners; one-on-one counseling is conducted to determine an entrepreneur’s needs, with assistance referrals given thereafter. Applications can be requested on line through the group’s affiliate, the Development Credit Fund, Inc.
Contact Community Lending Group in Baltimore at http://www.developmentcredit.com/micro.html.