Get Presidential Honors For A Deceased Veteran…
… You can help commemorate the honor of a deceased veteran by requesting a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation’s recognition of the veteran’s service. The veteran’s name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the president. Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. The veteran may have died at any time in the past. For more information contact Department of Veteran Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420; 800-827-1000; www.cem.va.gov/pmc.htm.

Get $100,000 Grant From The IRS…
… Organizations providing low-cost legal assistance to people involved in tax disputes can apply for grants worth up to $100,000 for the calendar year. This year $6 million was awarded to 102 organizations. Grants are awarded in December for the following year. To qualify for a grant, tax clinics must be run by accredited law, business, or accounting schools whose students represent taxpayers in tax disputes with the IRS or in the courts, or by tax-exempt organizations. These groups can represent taxpayers in tax-related matters, refer taxpayers to qualified representatives and provide non-English speaking taxpayers information about their tax rights and responsibilities. Clinics may charge tax payers a small fee for legal help. For more information request application package in Publication 3319 by phone at 800-829-3676 or visit the following web sites: www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=103846,00.html;
www.irs.gov/advocate/article/0,,id=108538,00.html; www.irs.gov/advocate/content/0,,id=108540,00.html.

Save $250 On A Speeding Ticket…
… Even the most elaborate of modern technology isn’t always 100% perfect all of the time. The report “Police Traffic Radar”, published in 1980, is still accurate and shows that all police radar tracking devices are not accurate all of the time. Such evidence can be helpful in the defense of your case. The laboratory also has information regarding alcohol breath testing devices, including “Breath Alcohol Sampling Simulator for Qualification Testing of Breath Alcohol Measurement Devices”. Both publications are free. Contact: Office of Law Enforcement Standards, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Dr., Building 225, Room A-323, Gaithersburg, MD 20899; 301-975-2757; www.nist.gov; www.nist.gov/public_affairs/faqs/qpubs.htm.

Make $45,000 Tagging Grizzly Bears…
… You may read headlines in the newspaper about the government downsizing, but in fact the government hires about 400,000 a year no matter what the budget is. The average wage is about $45,000. Only about 20% of the jobs are in Washington, DC with the rest scattered throughout the world. This could be a great way to see the country or live overseas while supporting yourself with a stable government job. Contact the U.S. Office of Personal Management (OPM) USAJobs at 478-757-3000; www.usajobs.opm.gov for more information on the best place to start. You should also contact the local office of your Congressman. They can send you information and help you through the process.

$100,000 Working From Your Kitchen Table…
… My wife got over $100,000 of government money to do consulting right out of our home. My sister got over $350,000 from the government to frame pictures. They are both government contactors and they make good livings as freelancers. To be a freelancer in this country all you need are business cards, a phone and a desk, and the government will take it from there. There are free offices around the country that will help any freelancer get government contracts. The government buys more of anything than anyone else in the world including: legal services, web design, aerobic instructors, landscaping, cleaning, and even stand-up comics. And only 20% of this business is in the Washington area. Can you believe that one year the government even spent $30,000 on a freelance priest? Contact your state Office of Economic Development located in your state capital or your local Procurement Assistance Office who can match the product or service you are selling with the appropriate agency, and then help you market your wares effectively. To find the office nearest you, contact Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office, Cameron Station, Room 4B110, Defense Logistics Agency, Alexandria, VA 22304; 703-767-1661; www.dla.mil.

Grants To Care For Grandma…
… The federal government gives out over $128 million in grants to local organizations to help people care for the elderly in their home, see www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020207.html. If you have to care for an elderly friend or relative see what kind of money and help may be available for you at www.aoa.gov/caregivers.

Ask Lesko…
Send questions for this column to dixiestjohn@earthlink.net. If your question is chosen for publication in the newsletter, you will receive a free copy of “Gobs and Gobs of Free Stuff”. This week’s question was submitted by Al, of Johnson City, NY:

“There seems to be a lot of hype on these grants and free money. Are there any real money grants given to help someone that is way in debt for education and wants to start a business based on that education? Seems there are tons of license, business setup and startup fees, not to mention living and health costs while you are getting established. How is one to start a business with no initial income? And still make payments on student loans. Seems almost too much to ask for a young person that has worked so hard to get this far. Any suggestions would be appreciated.”

Answer: NO. It’s not too much to ask. Just be prepared to find less than perfect conditions. But take it anyway and go towards your dream. I’m sure you would love to find that perfect program that will just send you a check for $50,000 to live on for the next 6 months to start your business and pay for all your bills at the same time. This is possible, but more likely you may have to put things together in bits and pieces. For example, your state dept of labor can give you money to live on for about 6 months while you start your business. There are non-profit organizations that give out up to $20,000 to help you start a business at home. You can renegotiate your student loans by contacting the U.S. Dept of Education or your Congressman’s or Senator’s office if you get lost in the bureaucracy. Entrepreneuring is never straightforward. There will always be roadblocks. Your job is to figure out ways to get around, thru or over any obstacle that is placed in front of you. You may not find exactly what you are looking for when you set out looking for money, but your job is to make it happen with what you find. That’s the fun part.

Thank you for your question. The best and most up-to-date place to get info for starting a business is my book, “Free Money To Quit Your Job” This book has the most current money programs at the federal and state level, plus grants from non-profit organizations. Order today at www.howtogetagrant.com/grquita1.