Posted by Maureen Petron - February's end means the first month of applications for the NASE Business Development Grant program are in! More notable than the start of the popular program for 2009 (for me, at least!) is that February marked the first month the grant applications were accepted online.
Instead of hand-writing or typing out the application form, NASE Members can now link to the grant applications here.
The online app still requires applicants to mail or fax in the supporting information -- such as a business plan and documentation of the business -- but we hope having the applications online will make it easier for members to start and complete the applications. When members create an account to start the application process, they can pause the process and come back to it at any point. They'll also be able to easily see online whether their application is complete, when it's being reviewed, and their award status.
For those of you that aren't familiar with the grant program, NASE Members can apply for up to $5,000 for a specific business need. Applications are accepted on a monthly rolling basis from February - November. This means when you apply in March, your application is considered against all other applications in March -- not held until the end of the year.
There is some fine print -- the NASE Business Development Grant program is only available to members of the association, and only to certain membership levels. If you're unsure if you can apply for a grant, just log in to MyNASE and use the Quick Link "Grants." Grants are given at the sole discretion of the NASE, and, unfortunately, we can not award grants to everyone who applies.
Still, it's a great chance to get your own little stimulas package, thanks to the NASE! Log on and apply today!