Find Grants to Help Fund Your Business

Did you know that there are grants available to help you fund your business? Some states, the federal government, and some localities have grants available. Many of these grants are for specific purposes, like the recent Pennsylvania grant for reducing energy costs and pollution, but you may be able to use these grants for related purposes to help pay for business improvements you were planning on making anyway.

Worker training grants, for example, can help you hire and train new employees. This sounds like a win-win for everyone.

Here are some places to look for information on grants:

• The SBA provides Small Business Innovation and Research Grants to help companies develop new products.
  
• Go to the SBA website (www.sba.gov) and search on "grants"to find small business grant opportunities.
  
• Grants.gov is the official U.S. government site where all current federal grants are listed. Try the employment grants section, but be aware that it is very difficult to get a U.S. government grant.
  
• Go to your state's economic development agency website(the name varies by state) or search on [statename business grants]
  
• Your local government (city or county) may have tax incentives or grants available to encourage small businesses to locate in the area.