| In this article we are going to go over what Local | | | | you might be able to apply for an economic |
| Grants are and how they can help your business. | | | | development grant that can be used by the nonprofit |
| You can also find grant money available for small | | | | for expenses related to planning for lessening |
| businesses to access and use at a more local level. | | | | unemployment and improving incomes in an |
| You will want to see if your city or nearby cities has or | | | | economically distressed area, which can make your |
| have an Economic Development Council. These | | | | business plan stronger and increase the chances of |
| councils offer a wealth of help for new local | | | | your business on paper becoming a reality. |
| businesses. They all vary a bit, but likely here is where | | | | Other places to look for local grants are at your town |
| you can find out what the business climate and the | | | | or city's Chamber of Commerce. Sometimes they |
| demographics are for the town in which you will want | | | | might not offer a grant to a business, but they do offer |
| to do business, which will assist you in writing your | | | | grants to non-profit organizations, so your business |
| business plan. | | | | could work with a local non-profit to develop a |
| One example of this is the Thurston County Economic | | | | program that would meet the grant's qualifications. |
| Development Center. They offer grants through the | | | | Through a Chamber of Commerce you might also find |
| Washington Technology Center's Research and | | | | that a particular city offers a grant to qualified |
| Technology Development Grant Program, for applied | | | | businesses equal to a percentage of their investment |
| research projects to make their way out of the lab | | | | in the first year of the business's existence if the |
| and into the marketplace. Another type of financial | | | | company is located in a particular area of the city. |
| assistance they make available is the Community | | | | If you belong to a business organization or association |
| Development Block Grant Float Loan Program, where | | | | you might find local grants available through these |
| the city applies for a grant and with that money | | | | resources, as well as small private foundations and |
| makes available short term loans to private businesses | | | | family foundations that are located in your area and |
| that will create jobs for lower-income individuals | | | | which might fund local projects. There are many |
| You can also sometimes find business grant money | | | | business organizations and associations available, |
| from your local government. In the Seattle area, | | | | ranging from the Arizona Bio-industry Association to |
| among others, if you are planning a larger new | | | | the American Philosophical Association and the |
| business that will employ 150 people and will require | | | | Computing Technology Industry Association, to name a |
| building, you can receive King County Green Building | | | | small number of business associations out there. |
| Grants if your project will be LEED, or Leadership in | | | | These types of organizations often offer help and |
| Energy and Environmental Design, certified, which is | | | | support to a new business through education, perhaps |
| building for conserving resources. | | | | a mentorship program, and sometimes grants. |
| Your local Economic Development Administration might | | | | You now know what a Local Grant is and can start |
| also provide you with resources to start a business. If | | | | looking for one that matches your business plans. |
| you are a non-profit organization or an affiliate of one, | | | | |