Money in the news:
The Ohio summer energy crisis program runs from June 1st through August 31st. During that time, households below 200% of the poverty level who 1) have a medical reason to need cooling or 2) have a household member over 60 or 3) have a shutoff notice may get a one-time payment of $250 towards the electric bill. Apply using a HEAP applicaton form.
The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) now has an office in Toledo. They are currently providing microloans for small businesses in northwest Ohio. For more information, contact Anneliese Grytafey at 419-708-4636.
Business owners, farmers and homeowners in Ohio who have suffered damage to their property due to storms in 2012 may qualify to have a lower interest rates on their repair and reconstruction loans through the Treasurer's Office Renew and Rebuild programs. For more information, call 1-800-228-1102.
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.***
Follow me on Twitter at: Toledolinda.
Linda Koss is the Grantsmanship Specialist for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, a position she has held since 1995. | 
