Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Find Grants In Pennsylvania

There are many grant opportunites available in the state of Pennsylvania.


The state of Pennsylvania sets aside various types of grants for individuals and businesses, including those for small businesses, students, persons with disabilities, female workers and the elderly. Applying for grants in Pennsylvania is simple, with many online and offline options to obtain and submit grant applications. Having knowledge of the type of grant you want to focus on and which offices to contact will help you to easily find and acquire your desired grants.


Instructions


1. Determine the type of grant you want to obtain. There are many different grants to choose from and hundreds of opportunities within each facet of life, including business grants, special assistance, student grants and other areas.


2. Download the PA Grant Resource Directory Act at pheaa.org/stategrants/index.shtml. The directory provides information for all grants available in the state of Pennsylvania, including contact information and deadlines for application submissions.


3. Go to the official government website, Grants.gov. Register on the website to find grants that you are eligible for and then download the application package. After you submit the application package, you will be given a tracking number. You will have to obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and get a Central Contractor Registration (CCR) number when applying as an organization. You will not need this when applying as an individual.


4. Contact your local Small Business Administration (SBA), which is located in each state, if you are seeking a small business grant. The SBA assists small businesses in financing, operations and applying for grants. To access the office in Pennsylvania online, go to sba.gov/localresources/district/pa. Click on the area where you will be applying for the grant. You can also contact the office by phone.


5. Search other sources, such as foundations, that provide grants. A list of foundations and their funding opportunities is provided at foundationcenter.org. Also search the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance located at cfda.gov; it lists all available grants. If you are a student seeking educational grants in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) located at pheaa.org. Find out if you are eligible to apply for a student grant first by visiting pheaa.org/stategrants/grant_eligibility.shtml. A useful resource to visit when applying for a business grant in Pennsylvania is business.gov/states/pennsylvania.


6. Prepare a business plan and a business proposal if you have applied for a grant related to business opportunities. Prepare your documents and hire a professional grant writer if necessary to help guarantee your approval for the grant. You can also contact the Pennsylvania SBA center to assist you in writing your business plan and proposal.

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