Women Entrepreneur Business Loans up to $15,000…
…The Women's Venture Fund, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that targets women entrepreneurs in under-served urban communities. They target women who do not qualify for credit with conventional lenders and rely on character-based lending principles in approving loans less than $15,000. Available nationally. For more information contact: Women’s Venture Fund, Inc., 240 West 35 Street, Suite 501, New York, NY 10001, Phone: (212) 563-0499, Fax: (212) 868-9116, info@wvf-ny.org
http://www.wvf-ny.org/whatwedo.asp

Up To $60,000 in Business Loans and Training for Texas Entrepreneurs…
.BiGAUSTIN is Central Texas' single-source solution for entrepreneurial education, tailored business counseling and flexible loans. By delivering both small business financing and nationally-acclaimed education, BiGAUSTIN is the single-source solution for entrepreneurs who have limited time and prefer to form a single relationship with one business development partner. Available for central Texas only. For more information contact: BiGAUSTIN Business Investment Growth, 1150 East11th Street
Suite 350, Austin, Texas 78702, Phone (512) 928-8010, Fax (512) 926-2997. Email info@bigaustin.org or go to http://www.bigaustin.org/about/

Variety of Loans From $25,000- $750,000…
…The SBA•Cisco Systems•San Jose Entrepreneur Center is a collaborative effort between the public sector, private industry and non-profit organizations to provide a one-stop location where start-up and existing businesses can come to fulfill all their needs-from financing to training to expert consulting to technology information and tools to the latest resources available on the market. Services available for San Jose, East Palo Alto, San Francisco and Oakland, California. To learn more, contact: Entrepreneur Center, 84 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, California 95113-1815, (408) 494-0210, http://www.ecenteronline.org/home.htm

$10,000 for Women Entrepreneurs…
…Women are starting businesses at a greater rate than ever and the Internet based non-profit organization Count Me In is there to help. Count Me In champions the cause for women's economic independence by providing access to business loans up to $10,000, as well as consultation and education. This program is available nationally. To learn more about starting your business contact: Count Me In, 240 Central Park South, Suite 7H, New York, NY 10019, Phone (212) 245-1245, or visit their website at http://www.count-me-in.org/index.html

Get $25,000+ In 2 Weeks…
…The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund is a private, non-profit organization that provides loans, training and technical assistance to owners of established businesses, individuals who want to start their own business, and Nonprofit Organizations who have trouble accessing traditional loans, such as from a bank. The Loan Fund also puts emphasis on helping low-income people, women and minorities. The average time it takes to receive a loan of up to $25,000 is two weeks, (above $25,000 averages between 4 to 6 weeks). This program is available throughout the state and the entire Navajo Nation. For more information contact: NMCDLF, NM Business Resource Center, 700 4th Street, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Phone (505) 243-3196, Fax (505) 243-8803, Email nmcdlfgen@aol.com or see http://www.nmcdlf.org/loans.htm

Loans from $5,000 to $1 Million…
…Small businesses have special borrowing needs and the Southern Financial Partners can help by providing loans for starting-up businesses, business expansion, equipment, and working capital lines of credit, just to name a few. The funding limits range from $5,000 to $1 million and are available in parts of Arkansas and Mississippi. For more information contact: Southern Financial Partners, 605 Main Street, Suite 203, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923, (870) 246-9739, www.southernfinancialpartners.org/about/index.html

New Business Loans up to $5,000, Existing Business Loans up to $35,000…
…The Self-Employment Loan Fund, Inc. (SELF) is a non-profit community based agency who helps persons getting started in business who are not quite ready for traditional business and lending opportunities. SELF provides training, technical assistance, and access to micro-loans up to $5000. Loans, ranging from $3,000 to $35,000, are available to qualified individuals who have operated a business for a minimum of one year and have an updated business plan. Available in Maricopa County, Arizona only. To learn more contact: Self-Employment Loan Fund, Inc., 1601 N. 7th St., Ste. 340, Phoenix, AZ 85006, Phone (602) 340-8834, Fax (602) 340-8953, or go to http://www.selfloanfund.org/

Up to $25,000 for New or Existing Businesses…
…A loan program may be the first step you take toward establishing a successful business. The Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is there to help with a private the Micro Enterprise Loan Program. The program offers simple flexible terms, fixed interest rates, and loans up to $25,000 to start-ups as well as established businesses. Available in Riverside County, California only. For more information contact: The Community Investment Corporation, 4250 Brockton Avenue, Suite 100, Riverside, California 92501, Phone (909) 383-0242, Email: pwatson@cicontheweb.com Web: http://www.cicontheweb.com/index.htm

Corporate Grant Giving in Philadelphia…
…There are thousands of corporate grant programs that support good projects in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area - particularly for non-profit organizations. There is now a directory available describing these sources and help in learning the grant process. Get more information on “Greater Philadelphia Guide To Corporate Grantmaking” from Turnbridge Publishing, Springfield, Pa. by calling 610-259-4191 or emailing them at tunbridgepub@aol.com.

Win $500…
…by nominating someone for Lesko’s “My Favorite Bureaucrat” Award. “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” This is not the punch line of a joke. It’s what I believe. This is the message of many real people who hold positions as government employees whose job it is to help people with problems in their life. This is why we have a government and this is what it is for. I want more people to know that there are real government offices where this is actually happening.

So I’m running a contest with a prize of $500 for the person who submits the best story on how a government bureaucrat has helped you. You get the money if we pick your story, and the bureaucrat gets a plaque for their wall saying that they received the “My Favorite Bureaucrat Award For 2005”. We will also print your story in a future edition of “Lesko’s Lessons”.

Maybe there was some government employee who:

• improved your life by helping you take advantage of a government money program
• provided a service for you or a family member that really made your life easier
• did something for you and your community that improved our quality of life

It may be the person at your local office of economic development who helped you or a friend get money and help to start a business… It may be a person at your local division of motor vehicles who saw that you could not wait much longer in line to renew your driver’s license because you had a colicky baby and moved you to the front of the line… Or it may be a paper restoration expert at the Library of Congress who told you how to preserve your comic book collection…

Use 250 words or less explaining the circumstances why they deserve the award. Be sure to give as much information about the bureaucrat as possible. Also include your name, address and phone number. Entries are due by May 15, 2005. We will award $500 to the winning story and $100 each to 2 runner-up stories. Send your nominations to matthewlesko@msn.com.

Up to $200,000 for Women to Start a Business…
…2 out of every 3 new businesses are started by women entrepreneurs. 1,000’s of little-known government programs are available to help women break through the glass ceiling and live the life they’ve dreamed of. For more information see www.howtogetagrant.com/2women1.

Want to Start a Business But Don’t Know Where to Start…?
…My brand new book, Free Money for Entrepreneurs will show you. Over 10,000 programs for people who want to start or expand a business including grants, low-interest loans, loans you don’t pay back, money when the bank says “no”. Plus hundreds of free services like free help with filling out money applications, free help getting government contacts, free legal help, free marketing help, and more. All you need to start or expand Order your copy today at www.howtogetagrant.com/grentrepreneurs1.