Do you know what happens to areas where there’s an economic decline? One bleak scenario is that without money, it starts to become dilapidated and possibly crime-ridden, so that just accelerates the pace of businesses and residents leaving the area. Revenues decline further because of the shrinking tax base, and the downward spiral continues. One way to prevent this is with an infusion of outside funding. One way a town or neighborhood can get a boost is with money from the federal government. One of the longest-running and most successful federal grant programs is the Community Development Block Grant. Here’s how it works. A sum of money in the form of a federal grant is provided

Student loan consolidation is the process of taking multiple outstanding loans and reorganizing them into a single loan, sometimes with a longer repayment period and therefore a lower monthly payment. If you’re in serious debt and ineligible for student loan forgiveness, consolidation could offer the solution you need. Here’s what you need to know.

Forty teams of graduate and undergraduate students from across the country are each receiving a $15,000 government grant for research proposals that develop solutions to real-world water and environmental challenges. The government grant funding, provided through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Phase I grants, was recently announced by the Agency.

“The P3 program offers a unique opportunity for students to develop and showcase innovative designs for environmental solutions,” said Lek Kadeli, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “As we enter the 10th year of the government grant program, the ingenuity and passion of the students continue to provide solutions that protect health and the environment while spurring economic development.”

For many of us, our smartphones and tablets are enjoyable diversions and even an integral part of our work and leisure lives. But they’re even more than that to some persons with disabilities. They’ve helped take the place of other forms of assistive technology. In case you’re not familiar with assistive technology, it consists of devices

We’re all eager to get government grants. (Hey, I’m no exception–I’ve gotten plenty of free government money for myself and my business, and always am on the lookout for more.) One of the most common questions is how to apply for it. Well, the answer is, it depends. Let me explain. You may already know that there are many, many funding programs out there, and they have their own ways of matching their available funding with deserving recipients.

The government gives away money for things it considers important. Here are the ten biggest federal grants to for-profit companies in Ohio in the last ten years. The Northeast Ohio Media Group downloaded and sorted the numbers from USASpending.gov, a government database.

Amid the great music, movies, and parties that will light up Austin, Texas during the upcoming South by Southwest festival, a small nonprofit called SponsorChange.org will receive a community service award for finding a way to help college graduates battle student loan debt by volunteering.

The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals in the United States who need veterinary care. Find out how!

This story happened in Washington, DC, but the lesson to be learned from it can apply anywhere. It shows why government grant money needs to be used properly and there needs to be proper oversight to be sure that it is. Government grant money in the amount of $330,000 was awarded to an organization called “Miracle Hands”

U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), has selected United States Sailing Association, Inc. (US Sailing) to receive grant funding in support of Paralympic sport and physical activity programs for disabled veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. More than $7.5M in funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been awarded to 70 community organizations and National Governing Bodies around the country.

More than 200 at-risk young Vermonters will find summer employment thanks to a federal grant program, with the focus on those who are no longer in school.

The Vermont Department of Labor has awarded grants totaling $100,000 to eight organizations from Burlington to Bennington. They will use the money to offer education and on-the-job training to Vermonters ages 16 to 24, with training in a broad array of fields ranging from early childhood development to forestry. One official said, “We’re trying to create independent citizens who have the skills needed to get a job and have a career and be a success at it.”

An income-driven repayment plan is an option if you took out federal student loans to pay for your higher education, and are struggling to pay them back. Luckily, the government understands that some people may not be able to afford the high monthly payments that are often required of graduates. Whether you do not yet have a job, or have one that does not pay well enough to cover your payment, there are income-driven repayment plans that can ease the month to month burden of student loans.

We all know the feeling of coming thisclose to getting something, then finding out that we just barely missed out. This can be true with grant funding. Many grant programs are funded at a particular time of year, then end when all the funds are allocated. Others have a pre-determined funding cycle. If you miss this funding cycle, you end up having to wait until the next one, or if the program isn’t renewed, then you miss out altogether.

If you are having difficulty deciding whether or not to hire a grant writer, below are some pros and cons that can help you decide what is right for you. One advantage of hiring a writer to assist you with putting together your proposal is that it can mean faster results. The basic job of a grant writer is to complete your work based on your financial strategy in a timely manner.

There’s a saying that originated in old Hollywood in the 1930s: “Be Nice to People on Your Way Up. You’ll Meet ‘Em On Your Way Down.” You know what? That’s great advice for business and real estate investing too, and when you’re looking to get a grant. From the very beginning, in every transaction, it’s to your benefit to treat others with kindness and respect. Of course, that’s just the right

Some parents make the decision that they want to homeschool their kids. If you decide to do so, you’ll want to check into how this will affect your child’s college scholarship opportunities. We’re going to look at some questions you need to ask and some research you should do. Then in the next article we’ll take a look at 10 sample scholarships that homeschoolers are eligible for.

What do you want to know about Pell Grants? Chances are, you’ll find the answer here! It’s a good source of school funding that you don’t have to pay back, so it’s a good idea to know what will qualify—and disqualify—you.

How do you think a grant reviewer will see your proposal? Try putting yourself mentally in the place of the reviewer, keeping in mind that he or she has no emotional attachment to your idea, nor any prior background knowledge of why your project would be a good one.Here, we get some hints and insights from professional grant reviewers about what their preferences and pet peeves are (adapted from research by Purdue University).