About Government Grants for Business & Commerce

Government grants for business and commerce are awarded to promote a public policy or stimulate business activity as authorized by law. Such grants are primarily designed to support organizations that provide technical, management or financial assistance to businesses in order to expand or enhance their operations. The primary source of funds for these grants is the federal government, with most state and local grant programs supported through the use of federal funds. The federal government disseminates grant information through its website grant.gov and agency websites that administer the grants.

OEA Grant Assistance
The Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) is operated by the Department of Defense to provide grants to state and local governments adversely impacted by base closures and needing to plan for reuse of a base for nonmilitary purposes. The grants are awarded as matching funds. The grantee will have to provide at least 10 percent of the budget for an approved project. Applications can be submitted at any time, and the grant funds are typically provided in yearly increments.

EDA Grant Programs
Established in 1965, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency of the Department of Commerce tasked with the mission of assisting economically distressed areas of the United States, whether due to natural disaster or changing economy, by providing grants that will help in creating new jobs, retaining existing jobs and stimulating commercial and industrial growth. The EDA administers several grant programs that focus on differing aspects of the U.S. economy, such as the Public Works and Economic Development program that provides grants to support rehabilitation and construction of public infrastructure.

Public Transit Grants
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) operates as part of the Department of Transportation, headquartered in Washington D.C. with 10 regional offices throughout the country. In 2005, Congress enacted the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA-LU) which authorizes the FTA to award grants for locally planned and constructed public transit systems of all types, from buses and subways to passenger ferry boats and people movers. The FTA distributes the funds using a combination of competitive discretionary programs and formula programs set by Congress. The available funding through the grant program is over $10 billion.

By Joe Stone, eHow.com Contributor
http://www.ehow.com/list_6049374_government-grants-business-commerce.html