Government Grants

Business By cakedeco Updated 25 Jun 2006 , 9:08am by mistiek2006

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cakedeco Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 8:53pm
post #1 of 23

Did anyone recieve a grant from the government. I applied and they said that I was eligible, but I had to pay 350.00 to start. If I was not accepted they would give me my money back. I was just wandering if this was the government grants worked. I never did this, but if I could open my buisness sooner with the grant and not have to pay it back it would be lovely.

Please respond Thank You

22 replies
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carflea Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:01pm
post #2 of 23

Where did you hear bout this? I would be a bit leary with anything that wanted money up front...

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darandon Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:01pm
post #3 of 23

I would thoroughly check out anything that wants you to pay first. It sounds like a scam.

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dianagreen Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:04pm
post #4 of 23

I would go to your local bank and talk to someone there, its a money issue, they would know if it is legit or not - do lots of research before you pay anything to recieve money

goodluck
Diana

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SLK Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:10pm
post #5 of 23

I'm in the non-profit world and have written several gov'mt grants - they have never asked for money upfront.

Make sure you are not going through a broker or a middle man who is taking a fee from you to find a grant for you. And, make sure to check the fine print.

Good luck!

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SweetThistleCakes Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:15pm
post #6 of 23

We just applied for a grant---- a microloan to be specific-- and we werent required to pay up front.

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tiptop57 Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 9:30pm
post #7 of 23

Cakedeco- - -
It's a scam, run as fast and far away as possible! Don't be sucked into it!!!!!!!

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cakedeco Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 10:00pm
post #8 of 23

Thank You all.

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Gretta Posted 1 Jun 2006 , 10:06pm
post #9 of 23

Just thought I would ask-- did you seek out this info. or were you contacted? It may help us all to know who or what "organization" this came from to give us all a heads up.

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SweetThistleCakes Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 6:24pm
post #10 of 23

Got a call from the lender today. You do need to provide some type of collateral however, it CAN BE materials or equiptment that you purchase with the loan $$. Does that make sense?

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ncdessertdiva Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 7:54pm
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I would still run, it sounds like a scam. Most lending institutions (legit) do not require any funds upfront. Also, check with the BBB. Do they have a website you can check out? Ask them for references before you give them a dime. Check and double check, there are too many scams going on.
Leslie

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tiptop57 Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 8:06pm
post #12 of 23

cakedeco,
AGAIN - Runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

Trust me on this one - and I don't require any money upfront for my help or advise!!!!!!!!!

I'm a REALTOR on the side and have worked with many lending institutions including the bad - Runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

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FunCakesVT Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 8:09pm
post #13 of 23

I'm with SLK, as a professional grant writer and administrator you do not have to pay to apply for a grant. Run, run, run...If you are looking for funding and inexpensive loans talk to your local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and/or local or regional economic development center (EDC).

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tiptop57 Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 8:24pm
post #14 of 23

cakedeco,

We call these types of lenders sharks and the rest of us are minnows or guppies.....

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white

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Doug Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 9:09pm
post #15 of 23
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tiptop57 Posted 2 Jun 2006 , 9:22pm
post #16 of 23

Oh yeppers Doug, should have put quotes around it! Sorry.......

Run fast cakedeco or I might break out into another song - LOL.

"Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it ah out of sight."

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cakedeco Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 3:16am
post #17 of 23

I went on grantinformation.com and typed in some basic information. Someone from Grant Resources called me back and talk to me. I think he is a middle man that does the work for your grant. He never asked any personal information like ssn, license number, bank account,...etc. He told me the grant program will accepted me for review and I would need to come up with 350.00 for his fee. If I would not get the grant I would get my money back in full.
I would like to do it my self, but I don't know where to start on finding the grants.
I also do not have alot of time to sit at the computer researching. I have a twelve year old that is autistic and a three year old. I have been averaging three to five cakes a week in my home and also doing the house duties.
Sorry for the rant.

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fosterscreations Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 4:32am
post #18 of 23

cakedeco

how long have you been in business.

Capital One has small biz loans and lines of credits for businesses who have been in businees over two years.

http://www.capitalone.com/smallbusiness/loans/business_loan.php?linkid=WWW_0406_SBUS_02_HOME_C1B_04_T_SBLO

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vixterfsu Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 11:16am
post #19 of 23

I'm not an expert on this but have done some
research. Alot of grants you don't have to pay back
or some you do, but with low interest.
Some organizations give out these grants.
Womans small business grants, Maybe a student
grant if you want to take classes in cake,
also if you are a percentage of american indian, you can get a grant. They want your business proposal to present. The ones that ask for a fee are the ones who point you in the right direction and tell you what to do. You have to supply the business info. Just put in small business grants for
woman or men in google and go from there.
Good luck.
vicki

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southaustingirl Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 11:42am
post #20 of 23

I went to the US Small Business Admninistration site which stated:

"At this time, Congress has not set aside any monies for grants to start and/or expand a small business. The U.S. Government does have grants that meet other purposes not related to business needs. The following website contains some of those resources:" http://www.sba.gov/financing/basics/grants.html

There is a lot of other information at www.sba.gov

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southaustingirl Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 11:44am
post #21 of 23

....forgot to mention...if you are looking for legit, government grants/assistance, try using .gov when looking for a link and not .com

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jmt1714 Posted 3 Jun 2006 , 12:50pm
post #22 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by ncdessertdiva

I would still run, it sounds like a scam. Most lending institutions (legit) do not require any funds upfront. Also, check with the BBB. Do they have a website you can check out? Ask them for references before you give them a dime. Check and double check, there are too many scams going on.
Leslie




while i agree that you DEFINITELY need to be sure what the money is for and why they need it, there are legitimate reasons to ask for an application fee up front. Navy Federal Credit Union, for example, asks for an upfront fee when you apply for a home loan. They credit it back to you if you eventually get the loan from them - the fee discourages people from applying for loans just to shop the insitution.

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mistiek2006 Posted 25 Jun 2006 , 9:08am
post #23 of 23

Sweety from experience if you are still wondering it is a scam. We fell for it 3 months and are still trying to fix our bank accounts. They messed up both our saving and checking accounts. And now with over $1000 worth of fees for them taking unauthorized money and checks bouncing, stop payment fees, atty fees, it is a HUGE mess and the total keeps going up. The police and atty say that it could be up to 3 yrs for everything to get fixed because they can seel your info to other crooks. RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN and notify all your financial inst. if you gave them anything.

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