Free Money from the Federal Government for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs. - book reviews

Black Enterprise, June, 1994 by Joan Delaney

Business owners who read Free Money From the Federal Government for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs get a bonus. Along with finding out where the money is, they learn how to apply for grants and write winning proposals. In her latest book, Laurie Blum lists 1,500 grants that are available from federal, state, county and city programs. The directory divides government programs into seven general areas. If you want to develop a high-tech widget, for example, you'll find a wealth of state-by-state sources listed under research and development. Thirty-four pages are devoted to minority businesses seeking start-up and expansion capital. Included are contacts, addresses, fax and phone numbers and a bibliography listing government and private foundation sourcebooks.

Blum, a co-founder of Blum & O'Hara, a Los Angeles fund-raising firm, offers valuable advice for applicants who've been turned down: Find out why and reapply. Persistence is likely to pay off, she explains. Blum warns business owners not to apply for government grants unless they have a tolerance for frustration and red tape. Patience, she says, is a necessity when dealing with the feds.