Grants for small business

HELP ME CLARK!

From HLN’s Money Expert Clark Howard

BRENDA:

We own a small Mom & Pop store and this economy is killing us. We have been searching online for a grant that will help us keep our business open. Is there anything out there as far as free money that we can get? We see a lot of grant offers online but they want money for the packages. Is there any government grant money for us without purchasing a package?

CLARK:

Well, the grant offers you’re seeing promoted on the web are scams.

There’s not even a grey area about that. The truth is that a lot of business owners are struggling right now and they’re looking for funds.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) was out of money, but now has a new allocation and it would be a good idea to go to your local score office at score.org, the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Make an appointment and go sit down with someone. They are experts on the SBA loan program, if there is an SBA loan you would qualify for, or any ideas they might have for how to survive these tough times.