Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am reminded of all I am thankful for, my God, my country, family and my husband. I am also so thankful to work in agriculture and live on a farm. We are blessed.
To prosperity,
Sarah

Combining Grants and Guaranteed Loans

Since we’ve discussed the differences between grants and loan guarantees, now I’d like to offer a discussion of how to use these seemingly opposite funding types together. Though a loan and a grant may seem like opposite paths to take toward funding a project, they are often best used in combination. Many programs, including USDA’s [...]

What is a Guaranteed Loan?

Now that you’ve read the grant column, we’re talking about the sister, well-maybe more like the cousin-of grants-guaranteed loans. Federal agencies often offer entire packages of funding available to applicants, but only a portion of it is in the form of grant dollars. Many times a portion is set aside to make loan guarantees available [...]

What a grant is- and isn’t

Everybody I talk to about funding opportunities in rural development, small or large ag enterprise or renewable energy wants to know how they can get a grant. That’s great, because there is grant money out there, but the conversation starts with me turning that question around, often dashing hopes, and saying back to the prospect: [...]

Grant Application Tips

It’s cold and gray today, just like November. Most farmer’s I know are finishing up harvest and thinking about winter planning. Many rural small business concerns are probably ready to evaluate inventory and plan for year end taxes. This is the time to grab a warm cup of coffee, kick on the gas log and think [...]

Renewable Energy for America Grant and Guaranteed Loans

In late June, the newest Farm Bill was finally enacted, good for the next four years. Among a mind-boggling web of programs, regulations and opportunities, one of the most anticipated was the continuation of on-farm and rural small business energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The new program, broadly listed under the name Renewable Energy [...]

Today is the Day!

“Today I am potential, tomorrow I am success” -June 14, 1991
“Today is January 14, 2005, and I am a writer again”-January 14, 2005
Both of these quotes are by yours truly. Profound-not at all. Inspiring-probably only to me. But true, they be. Today is also the 14, November 14, 2008, and it is fitting given my [...]