Grant Proposal Preparation Workshop

Small businesses receive more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts each year through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This workshop helps businesses develop higher quality proposals that can lead to higher company win rates.

Small Business Networking Seminar – St. Petersburg

Feed Your Entrepreneurial Mind – A great way to start your day!

Join us for our series of free monthly networking seminars for small businesses within the local community.  These seminars will be held on the third Wednesday of every month, and are a great opportunity for networking between business owners and executives.  Each month, a different speaker will share valuable insights and information on how to become a successful entrepreneur.

When: Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Where: USF St. Petersburg College of Business

140 7th Ave So, Science & Technology Building, Room 110

Time: 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Theme: “Small Business Grants”

Grants for Small Business – Myths versus Reality

So, you are looking for a grant to start or grow your business. You know that there is an abundance of money out there just waiting for you. You know this because your friends tell you so, the media tells you so, books tell you that all you need to do is just ask for your check, and infomercials bombard you with the message that anyone can get a business grant. Maybe, you attended a seminar where you were told that this is true and in order to find these grants all you have to do is buy their books, tapes, and/or consulting services. How probable is it that you can find a grant for your business? Is what you know the whole truth, the partial truth, or a myth?

The answer to these questions is that there is a kernel of truth in what you have been told; enough of it is true so that the source does not risk serious legal liability. However, read and listen closely to their words. Although they give the impression that these business grants are available in great abundance and are yours for the asking, the whole truth is that they have many restrictions. In the last six years, I have assisted 2,115 clients in finding money for their businesses. Only 22 (1%) of those clients received a business grant and almost all of them received their grants from a state of Florida program that is available only to the disabled and Native Americans. In my nine years of business counseling, I am not aware of anyone who ever received a business grant from any source they directly identified upon buying a book, watching an infomercial, or paying a grant consultant. So, what are the common myths and realities? Are there any grants available for your business?