Facebook Vs. LinkedIn - Which Is Better For Business?

Can I be blunt? I hate when my business contacts want to interact with me on Facebook. To me, Facebook is simply not a business environment. In my opinion, its an entertainment social network.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm a huge fan of Facebook; I log in every other day or so. However, I use it only to interact with my friends and family members.

LinkedIn, on the other hand, is a professional social networking tool. In my opinion, this is clearly the better site for business. LinkedIn was designed to connect people with others so that they can either advance their careers or their companies - or both.

Users can find new partners, new clients, and even new vendors. Furthermore, LinkedIn strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts.

I'm sure some people believe that Facebook is just as useful for business networking, but I just don't see how it fits. Trying to do business on Facebook is like handing out business cards or brochures at a family or class reunion. Not very classy!

5 Misconceptions About Business Grants

Business grants have been accessible to business owners in the United States for decades. Annually, hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money are disbursed to individuals to help them start or expand an existing business. Despite this, every year several myths and misconceptions resurface discouraging entrepreneurs from taking advantage of such opportunities.

Here are the top 5 misconceptions and why you should completely ignore them:

1) Business Grants Aren't Real
Of course, they're real. This can easily be verified by going to www.Grants.gov - a government sponsored web site that reveals all the federally funded grant opportunities available. Even more, you can check with your local (state, county and city) officials to find out about their grant opportunities. Business grants are very real!

2) Business Grants Are Only Given To People With Business Degrees
This couldn't be further from the truth. Very few grant opportunities require that you have a business degree. In fact, many of them don't even require that you have business experience.

3) Business Grants Aren't Given To Minorities
Wrong again. There are tons of grants that are designed for minority-owned businesses. Even more, women are considered minorities too - and there are plenty of grants for women.

4) Business Grants Are Too Hard To Get
Obtaining a business grant does require some work, and definitely some patience. It can involve a lengthy application, some tedious modifications to your business plan, and even some face-to-face meetings. However, many agree that its nothing close to rocket science.

5) Funding For Business Grants Has Been Drastically Reduced
Reduced, yes. Drastically, no. What funding doesn't get reduced in a bad economy? Despite this, there are still tons of opportunities available. So stop making excuses, and go get them.

The National Institute of Business Grants (www.BusinessGrants.org) provides free tips, advice, and frequently asked questions pertaining to business grants.

Blacks in Computer Science: The Secrets of Their Success

In the near future, there may be a noticeable increase of Black-owned technology companies that offer computer and/or engineering services.

After years of being labeled an "underrepresented minority" in computer science, African Americans in the U.S. are on the brink of leaving that category, with Bachelor's degrees in hand.

According to the Federal Government's National Center for Education Statistics, Black students received 12.4 percent of the baccalaureates in computer and information sciences awarded by U.S. colleges and universities in 2005-06. That's nearly equal to the percentage of blacks in the U.S. population (12.8 percent).

For advocates of minority participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), reaching this milestone is cause for celebration, especially since diversity in engineering remains stagnant. Black students received only 5 percent of the nation's bachelor's degrees in engineering awarded in 2005-06.

The November/December 2008 issue of NSBE Magazine presents an in-depth look at these important happenings, in a feature article titled, Blacks in Computer Science: The Secrets of Their Success.

To download the PDF, visit:
http://national.nsbe.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=YsNdVlXt/08=&tabid=98&mid=447

2009 Black Enterprise Conference Comes To Detroit

The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo is back — taking place May 17-20, 2009 at the Marriott Renaissance and COBO Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan. This year's theme is Shifting Gears: New Markets, New Opportunities.

Hosted by General Motors, the three-day business conference and expo offers an opportunity for business growth and development which attracts the largest black-owned business leaders and professionals from around the nation.

Attendees can network with thousands, attend stellar sessions, discover new products and services, and learn the best tried and won strategies.

I will definitely be there, possibly with a booth for my company. Last year's event in Charlotte went extremely well, and I'm a huge fan of anything that Black Enterprise is doing.

For more information, visit www.BlackEnterprise.com/beec or call 800-209-7229.

Magic Johnson Talks Business

As a young man, Earvin “Magic” Johnson admired his father and other small-town entrepreneurs who created jobs and served as leaders in his Midwestern community. He worked for them, watched them, and his interest in building communities through economic development grew even while his basketball career flourished. His fame as an NBA star gave him access to some of the most successful business leaders in the country. It was Johnson’s own entrepreneurial spirit that inspired them to serve as his mentors.

Johnson made the transition from great athlete to greater entrepreneur through hard work and by avidly pursuing opportunities. He recognized that densely populated urban communities were ripe for commercial and residential development. He partnered with major brands like Starbucks, 24 Hour Fitness, and T.G.I. Friday’s to lead a major economic push in these communities. The success of his businesses proved that ethnically diverse urban residents would welcome and support major brands if given the opportunity. Johnson continues to be a leader of urban economic development that provides jobs, goods, and a new spirit of community.

His new book 32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business will inspire and enlighten readers who wish to make a similar impact with their careers and business endeavors.

I've already flipped through the book and love the chapter where he talks about how he was the first NBA player ever to have an exclusive license contract to sell his own jerseys and T-shirts - and keep all the profits.

To order the book, visit www.Amazon.com

Were You Broke When The Economy Was Good?

Many people were struggling financially when the economy was booming, but are still struggling now. Suddenly though, they feel very comfortable blaming their situation on the bad economy.

Conduct an honest self-evaluation. Are you broke because of the bad economy or because of the following other reasons?

1) Mismanaging Money

Problem: Some people are very guilty of overspending on unnecessary items. Others have no idea what a budget is.

Solution: Write down all your transactions, and total them up at the end of the month. It sounds tedious, but in two months you'll realize how much money you waste. $300 on fast food, $250 on video games, $500 on clothes. You'll be a changed person forever.

2) Mismanaging Your Personal Credit

Problem: Many have ruined their credit with unpaid bills and loans, late payments, bankruptcies, and more. Now they can't even buy a car (let alone a house) without paying 20% interest rates.

Solution: Get a copy of your credit report and a calendar, and come up with a 3-5 year plan to fix your credit. Call your lenders and tell them you are serious about paying them back, and ask them to reduce what you owe. Many times, they will comply. Remember that just $50 a month for 4 years can pay off $2,400 worth of debt.

3) Not Learning A Trade Or Skill

Problem: Many never took advantage of the opportunity to attend college or learn a trade. Now, they are stuck with minimum wage jobs and no expertise to start a company of their own.

Solution: Discover what skills you are naturally good at, and teach yourself more. Find the right books, take an online class, earn a certification if possible, and get rolling. Its never too late to start.

4) Not Saving Money

Problem: Too often, people don't put money away. Many don't even have savings accounts, let alone a retirement plan.

Solution: It may be sunny for a while, but one day it will rain. Hard times are inevitable. Put as much money as possible away, so that when you need it - it will be there. Think about it: Had you done this 5 years ago, you'd probably have a little bit of money to get you through this bad economy. Open up a savings account today, and use it.

Southwest Comes To NYC - Finally!

For those of you who love to fly Southwest Airlines, but also travel to New York City frequently - your day has finally come.

Currently, the airline only flies to Long Island - which is quite a distance from the city. However, they are planing to start operations at LaGuardia Airport, a move that surprised some in the commercial aviation industry.

Southwest said in an announcement that it will buy assets from bankrupt ATA Airlines Inc. for $7.5 million. ATA ceased operations in April after filing for Chapter 11 protection.

That purchase is to include ATA's 14 flight slots at LaGuardia, plus ATA's operating certificate. With those slots, Southwest will be able to operate seven round-trip flights a day. They did not name any destinations and did not announce a time to start service.

Before that happens though, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court must approve Southwest's bid and ATA's reorganization plan. If the approval goes through, flights should start sometime in 2009.

Then, the only major market that they don't fly to will be Atlanta.

Good News For Business Credit Cardholders

For those of you who use business credit cards to finance your companies when your cash flow is low, there may be some good news ahead. Tamara E. Holmes, a writer for Black Enterprise Magazine, discusses the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act that was recently passed by the House of Representatives. Here are some snippets:

The Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act, passed in September by the House of Representatives, would restrict certain practices by credit card issuers. Among them, it would prohibit interest rate hikes on existing balances under certain conditions, restrict card issuers from applying credit card payments to debts with the lowest interest rates first, and require banks to mail bills 25 days before the due date.

“Credit cards are now the largest source of financing for small business owners,” says Kyle W. Kempf, senior director of government affairs for the National Small Business Association (NSBA), a Washington, D.C.-based advocate for small businesses. “With business lending drying up, small business owners are going to increasingly turn to their credit cards. It’s important that this vital capital avenue be regulated with some sensibility.”

"The bill must still go before the Senate, but with a new Congress convening in January, it is unlikely to be passed before then unless it’s added to the proposed second stimulus bill," Kempf says. "If that doesn’t happen, Congress will have to start all over again next year."

Under the legislation, card issuers would not be able to raise interest rates unless a promotional rate expires, an index that the rate is based on changes, or if a minimum payment on an existing balance is more than 30 days late. Card issuers would also have to provide written notice of a rate increase at least 45 days before the change goes into effect. "Business owners who depend upon credit would be better able to control their finances without the fear of a sudden payment increase looming," Kempf says. “Having $25,000 [with an interest rate of] 10% go to $25,000 at 30% is significant. It makes it difficult to have a sound business plan.”

The bill’s passage could also help offset another recent practice by the credit card industry that has hurt small businesses. With the credit market tightening, some cardholders have begun reducing the credit limits of customers who they perceive to be at risk of default. “If your credit limit is $10,000 on a small business account and they cut your credit limit in half, what do you do?” says Bill Hardekopf, founder of LowCards.com, a Birmingham, Alabama-based company that tracks credit card rates and practices. “You might need that extra $5,000 that they cut to order inventory or pay your bills while you wait for your cash flow to come in. It can have a devastating effect.”

Kempf is confident that the legislation will pass, either this year or after being re-introduced next year, particularly in light of the current state of the economy. “Small businesses are the only part of the economy that is still actually creating jobs unlike everyone else who is shedding them,” he says. The House passed the bill 312-112.

For the full article, visit:
www.blackenterprise.com/entrepreneurs/entrepreneurs-news/2008/11/10/credit-cardholders-bill-may-lighten-load-for-businesses/

The Ten Most Common Web Site Design Mistakes

I recently received this email from InternetRetailer.com that convinced me to be at their next conference in 2009. Here's what it said:

You may think your web store looks just great and you have a right to be proud of it. But did you ever sit with a focus group to see what problems they had with it? Did you ever have top web site designers analyze it to find flaws? And have you listened to e-retailers tell you how they’ve vastly improved online sales and conversion rates just by making basic design changes that eliminated the most common web site design faux pas?

You can do all of this and more by attending the second annual Internet Retailer Web Design '09 Conference at the all-new Fontainebleau in Miami Beach on June 19-22, 2009.

Here are just 10 common design mistakes you’ll learn to avoid at IRWD ’09:

1. The Home Page Syndrome
You put most of your design resources on the home page and treat product pages as mere information pages—not marketing opportunities. In the session Designing Landing Pages that Sell, you’ll learn that the sale is really made on the product page.

2. A Design Pet That Bites.
You fall in love with one design function, using all the cool graphics you can, at the expense of meeting other key objectives, such as simplifying site navigation. In the session called One Site, Many Masters: Accommodating Conflicting Design Objectives, you’ll learn how to please your pet while not overlooking basic rules

3. Beware the Overbearing Geek.
You let your IT professional run wild and dictate design parameters that ignore marketing or merchandising needs. In Programmers Are from Mars, Customers Are from Venus, you’ll learn how to let the customer rule the design roost.

4. Conventional Wisdom Can Be Stupid
You adopt generally accepted design standards but fail to adapt them to how your own customers use your web site. In the session How Your Market Defines Your Design, you’ll learn how to gauge what design elements your customers are looking for.

5. Do It Now—Ask Questions Later.
You make a relatively minor change to your design without rigorously testing it. The next thing you know, your online sales are dropping. In the session called The Importance of Testing, you’ll learn how to thoroughly test the impact of design changes.

6. The Don’t Fix What Ain’t Broke Mentality.
Your site is working so well you don’t think about redesigning it until it blows up on you. In the session called Is It Time Yet?, you will learn how to spot telltale signs that your site is overdue for a do over.

7. Who Are You Anyway?
You choose an outside designer to work on your site without checking his/her retail web qualifications or success record. In Choosing the Right Design Partner, you’ll learn how to spot a good retail web site designer before you move forward.

8. The Anything Goes Attitude.
You assume that with broadband web access everywhere, you can load up your site with all kinds of images. In Every Byte Counts, you’ll learn otherwise.

9. It’s Just A Store.
You think web sites are just like stores and need only products neatly arranged. You forget that non-product content is often what attracts people to a site. You will see what we mean at the session What Engages Shoppers Now — And What Will Engage Them Tomorrow.

10. What Are You—Anti-Social?
If your site doesn’t use forums, blogs and reviews, it fails to connect to the community it serves. Retailers in particular miss this, but the session Leveraging Social Technologies Strategically in Your Site Design will set them straight.

To register for the 2009 Internet Retailer Web Design Conference, visit:
www.internetretailer.com/IRWD09/

Dante Lee Featured on Tavis Smiley Radio Show

I was recently featured on the Tavis Smiley Show on PRI (Public Radio International), live from his studio headquarters in Los Angeles.

During the interview, I spoke about the African American web properties that my partner Will Moss and I have housed under our recently formed Lee Moss Media brand. These include BlackNews.com, BlackHistory.com, HBCUconnect.com, BlackWomenConnect.com, BlackInAmerica.com, and many others.

I elaborated on our mission to create the most relevant and resourceful online experience for African Americans, and our goal to own the largest network of premium African American web properties. I also spoke of ConnectPlatform.com - a new tool that Moss developed to allow African American individuals, groups, and organizations to create their own social networks for free.

To listen to the full interview, visit:
www.tavissmileyradio.com/zen/TSR/guests08/111408/DanteLee_FREEprev.php


About The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show is a high-energy exchange of views, information, and insight hosted by Tavis Smiley. The two-hour weekly show offers a unique blend of news and newsmakers in expanded conversations, along with feature reports and regular commentators Cornel West, Connie Rice, J.C. Watts, Omar Wasow, Dr. Ian Smith, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Michael Eric Dyson, Antonio Gonzalez and George Johnson. For more details, visit www.tavissmileyradio.com

Obama's Using Web Video - What About You?

President-elect Barack Obama plans to tape a weekly presidential address not just for radio listeners, as presidents have for years, but for YouTube Internet viewers, too.

The videos are part of his team's effort to build on a campaign model that helped him reach millions of voters online during the presidential race. It's a powerful electronic tool in new digital outreach effort aimed at supporters and others interested in being connected to the activities of the Obama White House.

The videos allow him to bypass the traditional media and reinforce his message online.

So what does this mean for entrepreneurs? It's quite simple - you need to start using web videos for your weekly or monthly entrepreneurial address. Just like Obama, you can post your web videos on YouTube.

Meaningful footage can consist of interviews, video blogging, public speaking engagements, and even Powerpoint presentations.

Don't be intimidated. You can buy a You-Tube friendly video camera from Wal-Mart, Target, or Best Buy. Secondly, it's incredibly easy to post the video on YouTube. You just go to YouTube.com and click on "Upload".

Stop Worrying About The Economy and Start Focusing on Sales

Retail sales tumbled again in October, posting a record dive as consumers cut back spending on a wide variety of goods ranging from cars to furniture to electronics. Should you be worried as an entrepreneur? Not at all.

Here are some snippets from a column written by Elly Valas, a retail consultant, sales expert, and contributor at DealerScope.com:

Stop worrying about the economy and start focusing on things you can control. If business is flat or down, you’ll have to steal market share from your competitors to stay even or grow. In order to that, you’ll have to be faster, smarter, more creative, and offer better customer service.

A recent study, the Retail Consumer Dissatisfaction Survey, showed the top reasons why customers don’t buy. One third reported they couldn’t find a sales associate; 25 percent were completely ignored by a sales associate, and six said they left because associates were poorly trained.

According to a study conducted by Bain & Company, 80 percent of companies believed they delivered a “superior experience” to their customers. Customers of those companies, however, only felt that 8 percent delivered an exceptional experience. Ouch.

Act like a job applicant. After all, you’re trying to get “hired” as your client’s trusted advisor-and create a resume to convince prospects why they should buy from you.

...List the ways your company differentiates your customer’s buying experience. Don’t forget to tout your [perks]. For example: extended credit terms; delivery, repair, service and installation departments; experienced sales staff; extensive displays; brand-name product selection, [and even free shipping]. You can even list your no lemon policy and your price guarantee.

Don’t hesitate to sell [yourself and/or] your staff as career professionals. Publicize awards you’ve won from trade associations, industry groups or magazines. You only get to be retailer of the year if you know your stuff.

Monitor your customer satisfaction to ensure outstanding service. Tell your clients you’ll be in touch with them to answer any questions that may come up after they’ve used their products for a week or so. Call customers to ensure they are satisfied with the purchase experience. Field any questions they have and ask if they’d buy from you again. Finally, ask them to refer friends.

Customer dissatisfaction happens when there is a disconnect in the experience customers think they’re going to get and what is actually delivered. Warehouse clubs are successful because they deliver on their no-frills, low-price promise. If you’re claiming to be the best, then your [business] needs to shine and your team needs to dress and act like professionals.

Valas also writes that if you own a gas station, remember that when gas is over $4 a gallon, people still buy gas. Your job is to make sure they buy from you and not from your competitors.

For the complete article, visit:
www.dealerscope.com/article/retailers-can-find-good-news-during-bad-economic-times-higher-food-gas-prices-low-consumer-confidence-110840_1.html

Dr. Seuss Sold 222 Million Books

Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) had his first book rejected 27 times from publishers. Finally in 1937, Vanguard Press gave him a chance. Wikipedia reports that he went on to sell over 222 million books, in 15 different languages. Spirit Magazine claims he sold 600 million books.

Either way, Dr. Seuss is a huge international success story for all entrepreneurs to take note of. To date, of the 100 best-selling books of all time for children, 16 were written by Dr. Seuss.

Again, he was rejected repeatedly by major book publishers who supposedly were the industry experts. They were dead wrong, and lost billions because of it.

What's the lesson for us? Never give up on your ideas or your goals, and never be intimidated by big companies who turn you down. Be persistent and bold, and believe in yourself no matter what. If you get negative feedback, consider it and tweak your ideas as you see fit - but don't ever back down.

Jay-Z's Rocawear Earns Huge Profit Despite Tough Economy

Though the economy is bad, its still very possible for Black-owned companies to be profitable. The hip-hop industry, for example, continues to flourish.

Bloggers at LiveSteez.com report:

In the midst of an economic turmoil, fashion lovers are still making their way into the stores to purchase some fly gear.

Hip-Hop apparel brand Rocawear has earned over $18.3 million dollars for the third quarter of 2008. The clothing line helped its parent company Iconix Brand Group post a better-than-expected quarterly profit, despite a sluggish economy and a tough U.S. retailing market.

Iconix bought Rocawear from Jay-Z in 2007 for $204 million dollars. According to Iconix CEO Neil Cole, Jay-Z’s direct involvement with Rocawear helped boost the company’s earnings, as did growing sales from the company’s London Fog brand of clothing.

Iconix also owns brands like Candie's, Joe Boxer, Starter and OP, and Rocawear. Rocawear also recently debuted its first fragrance, 9IX Rocawear, as reported by AllHipHop.com.

How To Crush Your Opponent

First, the Boston Celtics crushed Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers when they surprisingly won this year's NBA Championship. Then, Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open for the third time, giving him more major career wins than any other active golfer.

And most recently, the Illinois Obamas defeated the Arizona McCains to win the White House. Did you see McCain's teary-eyed concession speech? Did you see him driving back home with his wife (with no motorcade)? Crushed!

How can you crush your business opponents? How can you eliminate the competition? How can you run the show? How can you "get yours"?

Here are 5 secrets:

1) Turn Impossible into Possible.

2) Turn Impossible into Possible.

3) Turn Impossible into Possible.

4) Turn Impossible into Possible.

5) Repeat steps 1-4.

Exercising Makes You A Smarter Entrepreneur

Studies have always shown that exercise is good for your body, but recent findings in neuroscience have shown that it's also good for your brain.

According to Kristin Wehner, a health and wealth consultant coach, "Bodies that exercise regularly stimulate brains to have higher levels of BDNF; brains with higher levels of BDNF have greater capacity for knowledge."

This, in turn, will help you to make better and wiser decisions as an entrepreneur. It will help you better recognize opportunities that will advance your company, and dismiss those that are time wasters.

Wehner continues, "... in the words of John Ratey, Harvard psychiatrist and author of Spark: The Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain, BDNF is like 'Miracle-Gro for your brain'. Studies have shown higher circulating levels of thought-facilitating and mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters (namely, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine) within an hour of exercising."

Even more, exercising will help you better deal with the stress that comes with running a business.

"...if you're feeling antsy, frustrated or you're having trouble concentrating, get up from your desk and get moving. It'll help you focus today, and, with enough days of activity strung together, before you know it, you'll be in BDNF city," she says.

For the complete article, visit:
www.entrepreneur.com/worklife/healthandfitness/healthyandwealthycolumnistkristinwehner/article198118.html

Enter To Win The "What Works For Business" Contest

The "What Works for Business" Contest is all about shifting business focus from what’s wrong with the economy to what businesses can actually do to survive and thrive in 2009.

Today’s challenging business climate calls for innovative problem solving. Have you solved a tough business challenge? All you have to do is tell your story to win.

How does the contest work?
Simply submit a short description of a challenge your business has faced and how the issue was solved. It's that simple.

An expert panel of judges will narrow down the field to 50 finalists. They will evaluate submissions based on:

(1) degree of business challenge;
(2) creativity of the solution; and
(3) practicality/broad applicability of solution to pick the top five finalists in each contest category.

Winners across 10 categories will be determined by popular vote in December 2008.

Who can enter?
If your business is located in the U.S. or Canada, you are eligible to win. Enter by December 3 for a chance to help your bottom line and help others struggling to find business solutions that work!

What are the prizes?
One business will win the grand prize of $10,000 and nine other category winners will receive $2,000 each. All winning businesses will be featured in a national, year-long publicity campaign related to the contest on Business.com and partner sites.

For more details, visit:
http://offers.business.com/content/whatworks?WWContest=105

The Business of Pimping Obama

By now, you've seen plenty of vendors selling Obama buttons, Obama t-shirts, Obama action figures and yes - even Obama waffles. I've heard that there is an Obama video game coming out, and a site being developed called ObamaLoans.com - "Loans that Obama would approve of."

Isn't it unethical to be pimping his name for profit? Well, it depends on who you talk to. Some will say it is. Others will say that if Obama himself doesn't mind it, then who cares?

Truth be told, Obama doesn't seem to mind. If he did, as a former lawyer, he could have easily taken the necessary legal actions. After the election though, whether he wins or loses, he will still be a huge brand and may just require vendors to buy a license to sell products with his name and face on it.

Many other celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and even Tiger Woods have taken such actions - and rightfully so.

Using Obama's name however, even if you have to pay a licensing fee, may not be a bad idea though. People love his character, and most will buy anything with his name attached to it.

Think about how many Obama shoes you could sell. Or even Obama watches - "Time For Change". Or even Obama piggybanks to keep your "change" in. The list could go on forever.

Become A "Dante Lee" Follower

On a monthly basis, this blog has nearly 10,000 readers. Many are email and RSS subscribers, others are just casual readers. Please take a moment to be a public follower of this blog. The only step involved is to upload your picture, so that you can show up on the home page of DanteLee.com

To become a public follower for free, click here or look on the side panel to your right and click on "Follow This Blog".

When Turned Down For A Business Loan, Turn To A Business Grant

If you've applied for a business loan in the last six months, its a strong possibility that you were denied - even if you have good credit. This is because the current economic times have forced banks to be super cautious towards all loan applicants, even if you appear to be responsible.

This is even worse news for minorities who have always found it difficult to obtain business and personal loans from financial institutions. In this regard, many have turned to business grants as a solution. In 2008 alone, $360 billion dollars in grant money was awarded and more than 25% of that was given to individuals who wanted to start or expand a business.

Though many grant programs have been eliminated or reduced by corporations and government agencies, there are still plenty of opportunities available.

For instance, business grants continue to be awarded from the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Business and Cooperative Programs, and many more. Even companies such as Miller Brewing Company, Ford Motors, and others are offering business grants through various competitions and contests.

The National Institute of Business Grants (www.Business-Grants.com) is encouraging entrepreneurs and small business owners to not give up in their efforts to seek financial support, but just to redirect their search towards business grants.

Helpful Resources Include:

www.Grants.gov - a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs that provides access to billions in annual awards.

www.Business-Grants.com - a useful reference to learn about frequently asked questions pertaining to business grants.

www.Business.gov/guides/finance/financing/ - a directory of local and national business financing programs.