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 March 2009. Grants.gov (managed by Dept.
of Health and Human Services) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (General Services Administration) State 'Single Points of Contact' (Office of Management and Budget) CFDA in Local Libraries (Government Printing Office) Recovery.gov (The White House) A-Z Index of U.S. Departments and Agencies (General Services Administration) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (Department of Energy) Homeland Security State Contacts & Grant Award Information (Dept. of Homeland Security) USA.gov for Business (GSA) USA.gov for Nonprofits (General Services Administration) 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 (see Who is Eligible for a Grant?) to 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; access an RSS feed 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.
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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Federal assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes grants-in-aid to state and local governments. Agency Recovery Sites links to information about federal agency and department programs. State Recover Sites cover state projects and state contacts for grants programs. The United States Conference of Mayors Main Street Economic Recovery website gives State Breakdown of ARRA and Key Program Summaries. The National Conference of State Legislatures webpage Economic Stimulus 2009 provides Resources on Components in the Stimulus Package.
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.
Grants are EERE's primary funding vehicle for businesses, industries, universities and others. Most EERE grants are awarded on merit on a competitive basis. EERE financial assistance opportunities are listed in the Financial Opportunities by Audience database and on Grants.gov. For state-by-state information on state, local. utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, search DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency).
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.
Includes contracting with the U.S. government, international trade and exporting, and small business. See also financial assistance links at Business.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.
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.