About Grants – Look What I’ve Added For You!

Today, I've got some awesome tips waiting for you. Click the links below to see what I've found.

Start a fulltime income on Google
We'll provide the tools and training materials to get you started!
Here is your chance to get rich with Google:

Click here:
http://www.about-grants.com/preview/GrantNSLb.html

Google Money Grants have arrived -- the fastest way to make money using Google!
Get started today, you'll be glad you did:

Click here:
http://www.about-grants.com/preview/GrantNSLb.html

Now, on with today's content...

Recently Added Grants Resources:

• Grant Writing Consultant
• Raise Money

I would really appreciate your feedback on any of the above content. I would especially like to know what Grants-related questions you would like answered. So, if you have any Grants questions, please ask your question in the comments, and I'll get right on it.

Thanks for looking!

And, don't forget to claim your Free Government Grant at http://www.About-Grants.com/preview/GrantNSL2.html

Ariele Gregerson, Editor About-Grants.com

Jump-Start Your Government Business with the SBA 8(a) Program

The Small Business Administration 8(a) Program was initiated through the Small Business Act to assist disadvantaged small businesses to more effectively compete in the marketplace. The program helps these companies to access both private and government procurement opportunities.

The focus of the program is to provide business development support, such as mentoring, procurement assistance, business counseling, training, financial assistance, surety bonding and other management and technical assistance. The goal, however, is to prepare small disadvantaged firms for procurement and other business opportunities.

The local SBA district office serving your area is the best place to start when you’re interested in participating in the Program. Many of the general questions can be answered over the phone by SBA representatives. Additionally, many Small Business Administration district offices offer Program workshops that provide orientation information on eligibility requirements and assistance with the variety of Small Business Administration forms.

Fulfilling the requirements of the 8(a) Program are easily understood. The applicant company needs to be a small business and must be owned and controlled by a member of an economically or socially disadvantaged group. The controlling owners of the company must be of good character and be able to exhibit potential for success. The owners must also be citizens of the United States.

A small business is defined by the Small Business Administration as an entity that is organized for profit and independently owned and operated. The firm also must not be dominant in its field. Characteristics such as number of employees and sales volume, usually averaged over a three year period are dependent upon the industry in which the company operates. The basic reference used by the Small Business Administration is the Standard North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) which is used by the Federal Government to classify specific business activities that delineate the primary business of the company.

Socially disadvantaged individuals are those who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their identity as members of a group. Social disadvantage must stem from circumstances beyond their control. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, individuals who are members of the specific designated groups are presumed to be socially disadvantaged.

Individuals that are not members of a designated group can claim social disadvantage on the basis of a “preponderance of evidence.” Generally, preponderance is evidence of quality and quantity which leads the decision maker to conclude, objectively, that the existence or truth of the fact(s) asserted is more probable than not. This evidence must include at least one objective distinguishing feature that has contributed to social disadvantage, such as race, ethnic origin, gender, physical handicap, long-term residence in an environment isolated from the mainstream of American society, or other similar causes not common to individuals who are not socially disadvantaged.

Lack of access to capital and credit opportunities is one of the key factors in gauging if one is economically disadvantaged. When coupled with social disadvantage it is a measure of how effectively one can compete in the free enterprise system.

A two year operating history is usually the minimum to apply for certification under the 8(a) program. Tax returns showing operating revenues for at least two years in the business area that the firm is applying are required to meet this requirement.

The Program is divided into two stages. The first stage is the development stage which is usually four years in duration. It is designed to help 8(a) program participants overcome economic disadvantage by providing business development assistance. The second stage is the transitional stage which usually lasts five years. This stage is designed to help participants overcome the remaining elements of economic disadvantage and to prepare participants for leaving the Program.

Some Grants Ideas on About-Grants.com…

It's a new week, and we've got some great new Grants tips and tricks in store for you at About-Grants.com.

Start a fulltime income on Google
We'll provide the tools and training materials to get you started!
Here is your chance to get rich with Google:

Click here:
http://www.about-grants.com/preview/GrantNSLb.html

Google Money Grants have arrived -- the fastest way to make money using Google!
Get started today, you'll be glad you did:

Click here:
http://www.about-grants.com/preview/GrantNSLb.html

Go check out the following tips and resources:

TIPS - Check Out This Week's Grants Tips:

• What kinds of fellowships are available?

Here are the Grants resources that were added this week:

• Medical Scholarships

Would you like to ask a Grants-related question? Click the "Comment" link below to post your questions. I'll post an answer for you on the site and in our Grants newsletter. Subscribe in the right sidebar.

Thanks!

And, don't forget to claim your Free Government Grant at http://www.About-Grants.com/preview/GrantNSL3.html

Ariele Gregerson, Editor About-Grants.com

How To Win The Scholarship Game

Winning college scholarships is much like playing a game. Your opponents are other students that would like to win as much as you do, maybe even more than you do. What you need to do is learn how to make your scholarship applications stand out by putting together a scholarship application that makes the judges sit up and take notice.

Picture this. Several scholarship judges are sitting around a big table with tall stacks of scholarship applications directly in front of them. Each application is piled on top of another, with staples or paper clips holding the letters of recommendation, high school transcripts, application forms, and all the other materials that the directions specified in the scholarship requirements. As each judge takes a scholarship packet and begins to read through them, papers get shuffled. Quite often, as pages are being passed from one judge to another, paper clips slip off of the packets and materials slip to the floor. One judge rescues one such page and looks at it closer. Where is the name? Which scholarship packet did this page fall from? He sees no name, just a typed essay. Into the trash it goes. There are many many more to read.

In the middle of reading an essay, one judge looks up and tosses it, and the rest of the application packet, into the trash. Too many words; 500 words or less means 500 words or less. Not 600, not 502, just 500 or less.

Another judge is reading through an application and has to stop and wipe the ink smudges off so that he can make out the student’s hand written information. He tries for a split second, shrugs, and then throws the whole scholarship application and all the materials into the trashcan. Now are you starting to get the picture?

A judge who has been quickly skimming through his pile of applications suddenly stops and is compelled to take a closer look at the next application packet in the pile. It is neatly arranged in a shiny, black folder. It has the name of the applicant and the name of the scholarship typed on a label on the outside of the folder. He opens up the folder and can’t help but smile as he notices the wallet-sized picture of the student taped neatly to the inside flap of the folder. As he pulls out the required documents, he sees that each one is neatly labeled with the student’s name, address, and phone number. All documents are in the order in which the scholarship rules requested. No material is missing. Also included is a neatly typed scholarship resume. This resume shares the student’s academic success as shown by awards received, G.P.A, class rank, and more. It also documents and explains his part-time job requirements, volunteer and community service hours, and is clearly labeled with the student’s name, phone number, and address. There is not a wrinkle, rip, fold, or tear in this scholarship application packet.

Someone really wants to win this scholarship and has taken the time to show it. The whole application is easy to read, in the correct order, not missing any required documents, and just feels different from all the rest.

This judge stops what he is doing, clears his throat loudly, and proudly tells his fellow judges that he has found the scholarship winner!

Could that be you or your daughter or son? You can be the judge. In order to win the scholarship game, you need to learn how to make the application clearly stand out from ALL the others. Find out now what you need to do to be a scholarship game winner!

Some Grants Ideas on About-Grants.com…

This has been a great week at About-Grants.com. As usual, I've added some helpful Grants content for you below.

NEW -- GOOGLE GRANTS NEWS RELEASE:

Google just announced its Google Grants program.

Work from home positions now available to a limited few. Individuals who want to earn money from home on their computer should get the Google Money Grants program. This is a legitimate program, so you must be serious about earning as much as $200-$500 per day or more!

For more information, click here:
http://www.about-grants.com/preview/GrantNSL.html

Now, on with today's content...

Check Out This Week's Grants Resources:

• Music Education Grants
• Personal Funding
• Free Scholarship And Grants

Thanks for looking. I have some exciting new content planned for this week. Keep an eye out for it.

As usual, if you have any specific Grants questions you would like me to answer, please leave your comments, and I'll do my best to get an answer for you.

And, don't forget to claim the new Google Grants at http://www.About-Grants.com/preview/GrantNSL.html

Ariele Gregerson, Editor

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