Grants Information
Small businesses have played an integral role in Pennsylvania’s history. I have made it a priority to see that our small businesses receive tax cuts for future investment and that they have the resources necessary to apply for federal grants.
In general, federal grants are given to state and local governments and other organizations that are pursuing activities that have national relevance. There are dozens of federal grant programs to assist small businesses. Some are designed to improve the capacity of small businesses to grow and expand; others offer low interest or guaranteed loans.
What My Office Can Do
Because grants are competitive and are offered by executive agencies, my office cannot guarantee a monetary award. However, we can assist you in the application process to increase your chances of being awarded a grant. In addition, we can write a letter of support on your behalf to the awarding agency. If you are a small business owner, my Director of Constituent Services has compiled a Small Business Grant InfoPack to assist you. You can download it below. Otherwise, grant application information can be found below. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Joe Fabricatore in my Clarks Summit office at (570) 585-9988 or email him at Joe.Fabricatore@mail.house.gov.
My office has prepared InfoPacks that small business owners and those interested in starting a small business may find useful as a guide to existing federal programs and opportunities for business development.
The InfoPack can be downloaded here:
Download Congressman Carney's Small Business Grants InfoPack
(requires Adobe Acrobat)
Guidance and key resources to help eligible grantseekers find information on federal grants, loans, and nonfinancial assistance for projects, as well as on private funding.
Prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, updated October 2008. Grants.gov (managed by Dept.
of Health and Human Services) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (General Services Administration) Catalog Indexes and Listings
(CFDA) Developing and Writing Grant Proposals (CFDA) Federal Regional or Local Office Addresses (CFDA Appendix IV) State 'Single Points of Contact' (Office of Management and Budget) CFDA in Local Libraries (Government Printing Office) A-Z Index of U.S. Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration) Homeland Security State Contacts & Grant Award Information (Dept. of Homeland Security) Disaster Assistance (Federal Emergency Management Agency) USA.gov for Business (GSA) USA.gov for Nonprofits (General Services Administration) Faith-Based and Community Organizations (Office of Faith-Based and Community Organizations) Student Aid on the Web (Dept. of Education) GovBenefits.gov (via Department of Labor) FTC Consumer Alert (Federal Trade Commission) OMB Grants Management Web Site (Office of Management and Budget) The Foundation Center Grant Resources by State (Grantsmanship Center) Community Foundation Locator (Council on Foundations)
Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance
How Best to Find Information
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Key Federal Funding Sources
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Federal website that allows eligible grantseekers to electronically find and
apply for current competitive grant opportunities from ALL federal agencies.
Grantseekers can check on notices of funding availability (NOFA) posted in the last
7 days; sign up to receive e-mail notification of grant opportunities; and apply for federal grants through a unified process by downloading the application and submitting online. The website guides grantseekers in obtaining a DUNS (Dun and Bradstreet) number and registering at Grants.gov to apply and to track applications. For full federal program descriptions, see CFDA below.
The Catalog (CFDA), issued annually and updated continuously on the
Web, describes some 1600 federal grants and non financial assistance programs. Grantseekers can identify programs that might support their projects and can learn the program's objectives, requirements, application procedures and contacts. For current notices of funding availability, see Grants.gov.
Although keyword searching is often a good place to start, also browse by broad subject ("functional area"), by federal department or agency, or by beneficiary to identify more federal funding programs. CFDA program descriptions refer to local and regional federal office addresses, to related programs, and to Office of Management and Budget circulars, all available full text on the Internet.
Guidance in formulating federal grant applications, including initial proposal development, basic components of a proposal, review recommendations, and referral to federal guidelines and literature.
Much of the federal grants budget moves to the states through formula and block grants -- state, regional, and local federal offices often handle grants applications and funds disbursement. If the CFDA program
description refers to a state or regional Information Contact as listed in Appendix IV, grantseekers should
contact them before applying for funding to obtain the most up-to-date information.
Under Executive Order 12372, some states require federal grants applicants to submit a copy of their application for state government level review and comment. The state offices listed here coordinate federal financial assistance and may direct federal development. For help in identifying state-level grants, other state government agencies websites may be found at : State and Local Agencies by Topic.
Although the Catalog is available full-text on the Internet, some may prefer a print edition. However, only the Web Catalog is continuously updated—the published volume is annual with no supplements. The Catalog is available in all states in Federal Depository Libraries.
Related Federal Resources
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To better develop a grant proposal, search a department or agency's Home Page to
learn more about its programs and objectives. The site USA.gov also links to Government Benefits, Grants and Financial Aid.
Click on map for state allocations and contact information. Most Homeland Security non-disaster grant programs are designated for state and local governments and specific entities such as colleges, etc. Unsolicited applications from individuals are generally not accepted. Includes Urban Area Security Initiative, Citizens Corps, Medical Response System, Operation Stonegarden (border security), Infrastructure Protection. Programs for firefighters may be found at Assistance to Firefighters.
Disaster assistance programs activate only after a Presidential disaster declaration is issued and is restricted to those residing within the disaster area. FEMA disaster assistance falls into three general categories: Individual and Households; Public Assistance for emergency services and repair or replacement of damaged public facilities; and Hazard Mitigation funding to reduce future losses to public and private property.
Includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also financial assistance links atBusiness.gov and the Small Business Administration websites.
Links to federal department and agency information and service for nonprofit organizations, including fundraising and outreach, grants, loans and other assistance, laws and regulations, management and operations, online services, registration and licensing, and tax information.
Federal departments and agencies operate a number of programs to serve Americans in need for which faith-based and community organizations may apply. Consult Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government and Federal Funds for Organizations That Help Those in Need , and A Guide to Federal Economic Development Programs for Faith-Based and Community Organizations. Many are "formula grants" made available to states and local governments, which in turn award grants to grassroots and local organizations. To learn about them, contact local and state agencies responsible for managing these programs. [Download a free PDF reader]
Information on funding education beyond high school, including grants, loans, and work-study assistance to qualified students.
Includes information on over 1,000 government assistance programs, and how to apply. Covers direct payment, loan, insurance, training, or other services.
The FTC warns consumers to beware of paying "processing fees" for information that is available free to the public. Ads claiming federal grants are available for home repairs, home business, unpaid bills, or other personal expenses are often a scam.
OMB establishes government-wide grants management policies and guidelines through circulars
and common rules. OMB Circulars are cited in Catalog program descriptions and may be printed out fulltext.
Private & Corporate Funding Sources
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Gateway to information about private funding sources, the grant seeking process, guidelines on writing a grant proposal, addresses of state libraries with grants reference collections, and links to other useful Internet websites. The Center maintains a comprehensive database on foundations; produces print and electronic directories and guides; conducts research and publishes studies in the field; and offers a variety of training and educational seminars.
Click on state map to find links to information about a state's foundations, community foundations, corporate giving programs and the state's home page.
Community foundations have special interest in funding local and community projects.
Tracking Federal Funds
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A free, searchable database of federal government spending based upon Census and General Services Administration statistical data. Grants (Assistance tab) and Contracts must be searched separately: by individual organization or grant recipient; by place of performance, including by congressional district; or by federal department or agency.
FAS details actual expenditures of federal grant funds to state and local governments. Figures are presented to the state level by program area and agency.
In CFFR, grants generally represent obligations and include payments both to state and local governments and to nongovernmental recipients. Data is provided for state and county levels.