National Association for the Self-Employed – Business Benefits, Educational Resources and Access to Health Insurance for Small Businesses and Startups > Grant Program Awards Over $150,000 To Members In Inaugural Year

Washington, D.C., January 12, 2007 – Finding access to capital is without a doubt one of the biggest hurdles facing small businesses today, but for thirty-four micro-business owners, that hurdle is a little lower thanks to the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE). The NASE awarded $152,204 in business grants to its members in 2006, the first year of the NASE’s Business Development Grant program.

Launched in May, the NASE Business Development Grant program offers access to capital for micro-business owners who have a specific business need – but lack the finances to carry out that goal. The program was designed after an online NASE Member poll found that a majority of micro-business owners (57 percent) initially fund their businesses using personal savings, and many (40 percent) continue to use personal savings for ongoing financing.

With the NASE Business Development Grant Program, NASE Members apply for up to $5,000 for a specific business need such as the purchase of new equipment or software, or the funding of advertising, marketing materials and training.

“Finding access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles facing small businesses today,” said Robert Hughes, president of the NASE. “Often, a small amount can make a huge difference to a micro-business. That’s what this program is about – providing enough of a boost to the business cash flow to take that next step in growing the business.”

The following NASE Members received grants in 2006:

Raymond Badders of Shirtznmore, Inc. in Manchester, Md.
Steve Baier of Red Rune Airbrush in Norwalk, Iowa

Toy Bairamis of Kosta’s Taxi Service in Homer, Alaska
Holly Birch of Holly Birch Photography in Champaign, Ill.
William Blazek of Blaz’N Diagnostics, LLC in Boise, Idaho
Carl Booker of Avista Products in San Antonio, Texas
Timmy Butler of Butler & Son Funeral Home in Roseboro, N.C.
Barbara Cady of Whodonnit Mystery Games in Walla Walla, Wash.
Martha Cordova of Chosen Healthcare in Wetumka, Okla.
Stephen Desmond of Perfect Impression Gifts in Orrington, Maine
Roger Dyar of Roger D. Dyar, P.E., P.A. in Greenville, S.C.
Thelma Epping of Young at Heart Adult Foster Home in Bend, Ore.
Charles Freeland of Freeland Custom Woodworking in Indianapolis, Ind.
Mary Elizabeth Harvey of Kid’s Shop and Mom’s Too in Dothan, Ala.
Leo Huppert of Huppert Pediatric Therapy in Gilbert, Ariz.
Jennifer Labs of Paradigm Shift Solutions, LLC in Lakewood, Colo.
Carey Marden of Zucchini Fish in Providence, R.I.
Marsha McCleod of ABC 123 Teach in St. Louis, Mo.
Bonnie Medina-Jawad of BJ’s Groom & Zoom in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ross Merenda of Optima Trade & Investments, LLC in Follansbee, W.Va.
Julia Meskill of Camera Girl Media, LLC in Atlanta, Ga.
Susan Newman of Dragonfly Books in West Springfield, Mass.
Kim Peavy of Hillside Springs Farm and CSA in Westmoreland, N.H.
Haskell Potter of Southeast Plumbing & Backhoe in Choctaw, Okla.
Deborah Reddmann of Fancy Plants Landscaping and Lawn Care in Harrisburg, Ark.
Teresa Rowell of Post Office Pizza in Albany, La.
Thomas Santoro of Law Office of Thomas Santoro in Barkhamsted, Conn.
Jeanne Schaffer of Building Blocks for Learning in Janesville, Wis.
John Schleicher of The Cleaning Authority in Albuquerque, N.M.
Link Smith of L. Smith Pallets in Cedar Bluff, Va.
Craig Sowby of Corner House Studio in Pleasant Grove, Utah
Rebekah Stamp of Catalyst Physical Therapy, PC in Hamilton, Mont.
Michael Stivala of Intwenty.com, Inc. in Stroudsburg, Pa.
Donnamarie Worsley of Computerized Billing Service in Milford, Del.

To learn more about the NASE Business Development Grant program, click here. Benefit availability dependent upon membership level.

About the NASE
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's Web site at www.NASE.org.

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