Minority Government Grants

The truth of minority government grants is- there are no minority government grants as most people think of grants.  That is money freely available to do whatever one desires.

Consider the reason for grants- to make possible achieving a greater good.  Regardless if it is the federal government, a foundation, or an individual, it is unlikely that any entity will provide someone money to do whatever they want with it with no reason.  Consider also that foundations which provide money for cottage industries in third-world countries don’t dole out dollars.  We are talking amounts of $15-100 to help starving mothers make baskets or help farm, and even then foundations don’t see the need to give away money for nothing in return.

 What governments and foundations are willing to do to help the less fortunate in business is to provide loans.  That the money provided can be reused to help someone else.  After all, the money is being provided to help someone make money, why shouldn’t they expect it back and help someone else?  If the money was simply given away in minority government grants, then the cycle and the money stops.  That is why the charities that help the fore mentioned starving mothers in third-world countries only give business loans.  The money is to be paid back.  Also, even the illiterate must develop and get approved a business plan for their operation, meaning there are also processes in place.

So, again I ask why would the US government give away money in minority government grants for someone to start flipping houses, to open a nightclub or for no reason at all?

Are there government minority government grants ? Yes.  The US government gives grants all the time, of all types not just minority.  However, the process is slow, highly competitive, and full of regulations.  Remember we are talking about the US government, bureaucracy is their mainstay.  There is no Department of Free Money hidden away that no one knows about.  There is no secret pocket of money that no one knows about, just waiting for someone to ask for it.

As tough as the wait and competition for a government grant can be, the most difficult barrier are the requirements.  Again, this being the US government, there will be plenty of requirements in applying for minority government grants, before receiving funds, during the time span of the grant, and after completion of the grant contract.  And these requirements must be met with full documentation or accountants with guns will descend on you and yours.

Also,with  all minority government grants I have been associated with, there is no check that gets sent in the mail, that you can hold up and take a picture.  The US government may award a minority government grant worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, but it doesn’t sent in  a big check to arrive for a big party.  Minority government grants get parsed out over the span of the grant contract, and only through a process called a drawdown.  That is the grantor will provide a way to request funds to be wire transferred to the grantee.  This process is highly monitored and regulated.

The US government also provides grants to business, but not just for minorities.  However, these grants are not simply money give-aways for whatever purpose or for start-ups.  Typically business grants are to provide a service that the government agency wants done.  It is better to consider these as contracts than grants, and maybe the reason the government does but it out as a business solicitation is that these contracts are open.  Meaning that not-for-profits, universities, municipal governments, and businesses can all compete for the contract.  It is simply a matter of semantics, and not open season for free money via minority government grants.  Just read any business grant and you will see that these are not “grants” easily available to the average person or business.  Most often,an entity able to complete the grant requirements will already be doing what the contract/grant is requesting.

Visit the Hub Minority Owned Certification for help with a minority owned business.