Grants
There has been a bit of reformatting when it comes to stimulus grants for 2010. In 2009 the Obama government was very generous giving out grants to practically anyone who asked. This year grants are still accessible, but are being more strategically placed to maximize their benefit. If you are going to school, own a business, are looking to buy a home, or are going green with certain household appliances, these are just some of the reasons you can qualify for this free money.
More than $40 billion of the stimulus package is going toward higher education. Some of these perks include:
- $2,500 annual tax credit for higher education expenses.
- $13 billion for Title I grants for schools in low-income areas.
- $2 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant program to help low-income parents.
- $200 increase in the maximum Pell Grant for low-income college students
Pell Grants now stand at $5550 for the maximum award. This is up from $5350 in 2009 and from $4,040 just 4 years ago. This money will help students in paying average costs of three quarters of a four year college degree. Based on last year’s statistics, more than 800,000 students will qualify for and receive this Pell Grant Funding.
Additional funds are going towards energy saving sources. $6.0 billion in grants for a renewable energy or electricity transmission project. Plus, additional energy saving grants for consumers. Right now, the government is offering an unlimited amount of money for housing grants dedicated to heating and cooling repairs in your home. Perhaps your furnace has seen better days and it is not heating your house throughout the winter like it should. You could qualify for a tax-free housing grant that will provide you with the money to replace that furnace for a more energy-efficient, dependable one.
Community Development grants are also include in the stimulus package to help to improve your local communities. The money can be used to build, improve, and enlarge such community facilities as hospitals. In 2010, unemployment continues to hover around 10%, and even worse is that companies continue to hold off on hiring additional staff. There is a job crisis and that’s why Obama is sending majority of the stimulus rebate grants and money to businesses, state governments, and local governments to stimulate their revenues and encourage them to hire on more staff.
Additional money is being given to help families who are not getting enough to eat. There are many programs out there to help you get the food benefits you and your family may so desperately need. If you currently receive food stamp benefits, there will be an automatic raise going into effect soon, if you are not already seeing an increase in your monthly food benefits.
Finding what grants you may be eligible for will take some time and research. Most of the grants do not have to be repaid, but there are certain qualifications that have to be met in order to qualify for these money gifts. Take your time with the research process. You may find you are able to qualify for more than one type of grant. You can get a comprehensive list of available grants with a free grant kit. These grant kits also help you with the application process including multiple applications.