Grants And Loans

Get Presidential Honors For A Deceased Veteran

You can help commemorate the honor of a deceased veteran by requesting a Presidential Memorial Certificate, a parchment certificate with a calligraphic inscription expressing the nation’s recognition of the veteran’s service. The veteran’s name is inscribed and the certificate bears the signature of the president. Eligible recipients include next of kin, other relatives and friends. The veteran may have died at any time in the past. For more information contact Department of Veteran Affairs, 810 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20420; 800-827-1000

Visit: www.cem.va.gov/pmc.htm

18000 To Learn To Repair Motorcycles

After losing his job in Seattle, Curt Gnagy, 49, got government grants to take courses at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix. Joan DeWyer, a 41-year old single mom, also received government assistance for motorcycle training at this school. A lot of this training money comes from a U.S. Department of Labor program called Trade Adjustment Assistant Act.

Visit: www.trade-school.org/uti/motorcycle-mechanic-institute.htm

50 Discount For Teachers K 12 To Buy A Home

Called the ‘Teacher Next Door Initiative and referred to as Program #14.310 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, this program is designed to strengthen America’s communities by encouraging public and private school teachers to live in low and moderate income neighborhoods. Teachers (State-certified in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade) may purchase HUD-owned single unit properties located in designated revitalization areas at a 50 percent discount off list price. Teachers must agree to occupy homes as their sole residence for a period of 3 years. The teacher must also agree to execute a second mortgage and note in the name of the Department for an amount equal to the 50 percent discount. This zero interest note will gradually decrease over the 3-year mandatory residence period until it reaches zero. Should the teacher leave the home before the 1st anniversary of occupancy, 90 percent of the discounted amount will be due to HUD. Departure before the 2nd anniversary of occupancy will require a 60 percent repayment, and departure before the 3rd anniversary of occupancy will require a 30 percent repayment of the discounted amount. Contact your local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Visit: www5.hud.gov:63001/po/i/netlocator/

A Good Government Job is Worth Millions

The government hires about 30,000 people a MONTH. And only about 2,000 of those are in Washington. The rest are all over the country and all over the world. Right now there are over 17,000 jobs available in their database. Good pay, great benefits and you could be doing fun stuff like working for NASA, investigating volcanoes, or supporting our troops overseas

Visit: www.usajobs.opm.gov

Make Money Selling Elvis Memorabilia

The National Archives and Records Administration has many historical documents on their web site in the online exhibit hall. For example, you can see a picture of the first meeting between Elvis and President Nixon, and also a letter written from the king (Elvis) to President Nixon. You might also wish to look over the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, or the Bill of Rights. You can view all the documents and many more by going to the National Archives and Records Administration’s web site at

Visit: www.nara.gov

2500 Per Year to Repay Undergraduate Loans

Due to a critical teacher shortage in Florida, the Florida Department of Education is offering Teachers forgiveness of their student loans. If you are a Florida teacher and you are certified in a critical teacher shortage subject area contact The Office of Student Financial Assistance, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759; 888-827-2004. To find out more about this program, visit their website

Visit: www.firn.edu/doe/osfa/ctslffactsheet.htm

27000 In Grants And Loans To Fix Up Your Home

Grants can be used for replacement of heating, plumbing or electrical services, roof or basic structure as well as water and waste disposal systems, and weatherization. Loans are for up to 20 years at only 1% interest. See Program #10.417 Very Low-Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants (Section 504 Rural Housing Loans Grants) at Director, Single-Family Housing Processing Division, Rural Housing Service, Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250; 202-720-1474

Visit: www.rurdev.usda.gov.

150000 to Help Veterans and Unmarried Spouses of Veterans to Buy or Fix Up a Home

Called Veterans Housing – Guaranteed and Insured Loans and referred to as Program #64.114 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, this programs assists veterans, certain service personnel, and certain unmarried surviving spouses of veterans, in obtaining credit for the purchase, construction or improvement of homes on more liberal terms than are generally available to non-veterans. Contact your local Veterans Administration office at Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, 202-273-7390

Visit: www.homeloans.va.gov/eligmap.htm

Phone Best For Getting Grants

A telephone-based study conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project of 2,925 adult Americans showed that 53% preferred to contact the government by phone or in person and only 35% prefer either Web or email. 10% cited a letter as their top choice. Even Internet users are more likely to use the telephone or in-person visits instead of Web or email.

Visit: www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/128/report_display.asp

Non Profit Credit Counselors DON’T Have Your Interest

at heart. That’s why they are being investigated by FTC and the IRS. Counseling agency officers make a lot of money with back office deals. They’re charging you fees to pay your bills. They make money from the credit card companies. They won’t tell you about bankruptcy.

Visit: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/10/ftcirs.htm

100000 New Jobs

And if you are looking for a job, why would you ever consider looking to the government for work? Our budget hysteria sounds similar to a news story about Black and Decker laying off 1,000 workers. It sort of makes it seem like a stupid place to look for work. But, in fact, the Bush administration, in last 3 years, added 75,000 new federal workers. The prior administration eliminated over 300,000 workers. So if you are looking for a job, it seems even more stupid to go to Walmart who only has 1.3 million positions it has to keep filled, when the government has over 15 million positions it has to keep filled. And, I’m sure the government offers better pension and health care benefits and won’t lock you in the store at night, unless maybe you’re working in a nuclear missile silo!

Visit: www.govengine.com

Low Interest Mortgage Loans Can Be Rip Offs

Make sure you don’t get caught in the type of scam the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating. A mortgage broker was advertising the following on the web: Free 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30- year Fixed at Today’s Rate with No Costs – No Kidding. They lied and the FTC froze all their assets.

Visit: www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/06/pwrprocessing.htm

Join the Club and Get a Home For 500 Down

HomeFree USA features financial assistance programs as well as education, referral and counseling services for prospective buyers in the metropolitan Washington area. Membership is required for participation in programs. Members have access to a variety of financial aid packages related to homeownership, including money for downpayments, closing costs and access to special money-saving mortgage programs. HomeFree offers a mortgage plan requiring $500 down and closing cost grants that do not need to be repaid. Also offered to members are assistance with credit, debt, and tax issues, counseling on savings, debt and budgeting, access to a number of mortgage professionals, assistance in applying for a mortgage, classes in smart homeownership, and step-by-step counseling to make sure the member’s financial interests are protected in the home buying process. Contact: HomeFreeUSA, 318 Riggs Road, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20011. Phone: (202) 526-2000 or (800) 289-4632; fax: (202) 526-4072

Visit: www.homefreeusa.org

Grants To Pay For A Down Payment

on a home are available through a non-profit organization called AmeriDream, Inc. It’s a little complicated, but my understanding is that to get government money to buy a home, the seller cannot give you a down payment to help you buy the home. But they can give the money to a non-profit, who in turn can give you the money. Anyway, the deal can get done and you don’t need to put up money.

Visit: www.ameridream.org/

Free Classes and Fee based Seminars On How To Get Grants

The Foundation Center in Atlanta has a wide range of information about possible sources of funding. The Center offers workshops for the beginner grant seeker. They also have a library located at 50 Hurt Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30303. The phone number is 404-880-0095 or 94. An online database of 5,600 foundations and public charity programs is available for a monthly fee.

Visit: fdncenter.org/atlanta/

Pennsylvania Soldiers Collect 2500

A one-time student loan forgiveness benefit of up to $2,500 can be yours if you served in the Armed Forces, in an active duty status, between September 11, 2001, and December 31, 2004. The Armed Forces Loan Forgiveness Program recognizes the bravery, dedication, and loyalty of our servicemen and women who served in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. To learn more about this program contact the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, PA State Grants and Special Programs, 1200 N 7th St, Harrisburg PA 17102-1444; (800)233-0557

Visit: www.pheaa.org/

Costa Rica Knows How To Buy Health Care

according to the World Bank, Costa Ricans spend an average of $273 per person, per year, on health care and have a life expectancy of 77.6 years. U.S. citizens spend and average of $4,499 per person per year on health care and have a life expectancy of 78 years.The U.S. spends more on health care than any other developed country, and there are 41 countries where people live longer.

Visit: www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html

Get Your Customers 62/Wk To Pay For You

Up to $62 per week for full time care infant through five-years-old, $18 per day for part time care for infants through five-year-olds, and $37 per week before and after school program from the federal Child Care and Development Funds Program. The Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program helps families in Georgia pay for early childhood and school age care and education programs. Families with a limited income who are working, attending school or training may qualify for subsidized childcare. Chattooga County Department of Family and Children Services, 302 South Commerce Street, P.O. Box 250, Summerville, GA 30747-0250; 706-857-0817; Fax: 706-857-0823

Visit: www.div.dhr.state.ga.us/dfcs_caps

3500 Grant to Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility Bills

This program is called the Energy Efficient Mortgages Program and can be used to make energy-efficient improvements in one to four existing and new homes. The improvements can be included in a borrower’s mortgage only if their total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during their useful life. The cost of the improvements that may be eligible for financing as part of the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property’s value (not to exceed $8,000) or $4,000–whichever is greater. The maximum mortgage limit for a single-family home is $160,950, plus the cost of the eligible energy-efficient improvements.

Visit: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm

5000 to Get Rid of Lead Paint in Your Home

Called the Lead-based Paint Hazard Control in Privately-Owned Housing Program and referred to as Program #14.900 in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, this program provides grants to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately- owned housing that is owned by or rented to low- or very-low income families. Specific objectives include: (1) building the capacity necessary to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in all housing; (2) preventing childhood lead poisoning; (3) involving cooperation among all levels of government, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations; (4) integrating comprehensive community approaches to address lead hazards in housing; (5) integration of lead- safe practices into other programs which will continue beyond the life of the grant; (6) establishment of a public registry of lead-safe housing; and (7) promoting job training, employment, and other economic lift opportunities for low-income residents of project neighborhoods. . Contact your local office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at

Visit: www5.hud.gov:63001/po/i/netlocator/