Money in the news:
Toledo Soup is now taking applications for its second round of grant-giving. Applications will be accepted for a micro-grant by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 28th. The offer is open to both for and non-profit groups for small projects that would positively affect the Toledo community. For more information, see the website or contact them at ToledoSOUP@gmail.com.
Filing for compensation for stop-loss extended tour of duties for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has been extended until October 21, 2012. Veterans who had their tours of duty extended under stop loss can file for compensation until then.
The new settlement between major mortgage service companies and the federal and 49 state governments has now created a program to help some mortgage holders who are underwater, in danger of foreclosure, or who lost their homes since 2009. To see if you may be eligible, see the National Mortgage Settlement webpage. If you were in foreclosure in 2009-2010 and want to request an independent review to see if you are eligible for any relief, the deadline to ask for a free review is July 31, 2012. See the webpage for an independent foreclosure review.
Ohio homeowners who are behind on their property taxes--even those without a mortgage--may be eligible for help with paying them in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. For more information, call 888-404-4674.
Comcast has a program to offer high-speed internet access--and a low-cost computer--to households with at least one child who receives free school lunches. This is only for areas where Comcast has high-speed internet connections. See the Comcast website for more details, or call 1-855-846-8376.
Truth and nonsense:
1) Billions in grant dollars are just lying around, waiting for deserving individuals to apply.
Truth: Most federal grants are earmarked for state and local governments and nonprofits. There are few funds that go directly from the federal government to individuals. In turn, those nonprofits, local and state governments create aid programs that are often in the form of reduced rate loans, loan guarantees, and tax breaks and incentives, and they vary from one state or locality to another. There are very few outright grants.
2) Lots of new business owners are eligible for grants.
Truth: Most aid that comes to businesses comes in the form of loans, loan guarantees, and tax incentives. In most instances, businesses that get outright grants have received them because they have 1) invested a great deal of money in a location, and the state or local government at that location gave them a grant to “sweeten the pot” and attract big business 2) suffered a disaster and got a disaster grant 3) promised to create a certain amount of jobs in the jurisdiction giving the grant. Many other “grants” touted on “free money” books and websites are in fact contracts with the government to create goods or services.
3) Minorities and women get lots of grants set aside just for them.
Truth: Except for education, few grants are set asides just for women and minorities. In some jurisdictions, set aside percentages have been created at government purchasing agencies to buy a certain amount of goods and services from women or minority owned companies, but these are payments for services, not grants. Many grants are created to give government agencies and nonprofit organizations money to create programs that help minorities and women, often in the form of counseling and loans.
***NOW: find strange new sources of (non)free money and financial help at the blog: Free Money Ate My Brain.***
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Linda Koss is the Grantsmanship Specialist for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, a position she has held since 1995. | 
