Author Archive: Ruth Collins

What You Need To Know About Grants.Gov

Grants.gov features over 1,000 grant programs from 26 different federal grant-making agencies in the United States. Most of the grants that are found on Grants.gov are mainly for organizations and institutions, only a few of them are for individuals.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on small business grants and loans, home buyer programs and impact investment programs from around the world.

Small Business Administration Background

The Small Business Administration was established in 1953. Since that time the agency has dispensed millions of dollars in loans and loan guarantees, contracts, consulting assistance and other programs for small business across the United States.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Tackling Home Improvement Jobs? Read These Tips First!

Anyone who has ever owned their own home can tell you that it takes a great deal of work to keep it looking great and working efficiently. Homeowners can reasonably expect to spend up to three percent of the home’s value on annual home improvements. Certainly, it is possible to reduce costs, so it makes sense to review some great ideas for doing just that.

Small rooms tend to be gloomy, but they don’t have to be. Let some light in! Open the curtains and clean the windows until they gleam! A room will instantly look bigger with a little natural light. Keep your room free of clutter and paint the walls a pale color. Your small room won’t seem cramped anymore.

Homes can look newer with the help of floor covering in rooms. You can choose to do the work yourself, or most flooring companies can install the flooring of your choice (either carpet, tile, hardwoods, or other) in a short amount of time, generally about one day.

Make sure that the home improvement work you do can be easily seen. When you sell your home, buyers will be looking at it, not inspecting its guts. While visual improvements aren’t always the most important, they are when it comes to selling your house.

If you have a leak under your sink or your tap, do not try to fix it yourself. Simply place a large container under the leak and contact a plumber.

Bleach is a great tool for cleaning toilets. Bleaching the toilet bowl not only keeps it clean but also kills germs and bacteria. Scented bleach can also help keep the odor at bay.

If you’re going to take on a home improvement project by yourself, you should write down the plan you’re hoping to follow, then have a professional look it over for you. If you miss something, your entire project could be in jeopardy.

Window modifications can make a ceiling seem higher than it already is and add some spice. To make the ceiling “raise”, put the curtain rods higher. This will make the eye think the room is higher as well.

After going through the tips laid out here, you can know that you won’t spend too much money in your next trip at one of those home stores! You can make your home a beautiful place to live in, while still saving a lot of money.

Are Green Energy sources affordable To The average customer?

Going green does not mean going broke or having no time for anything else. In a few simple steps, you can reduce your energy use and help improve the environment. Continue reading to learn how you can use green energy and help our environment.

To reduce energy usage, sahe your windows to keep out sunlight. Installing blinds and curtains will also help. When you use these two things in tandem, you will find your heating and cooling bills will plummet. You will save energy and money.

Solar Energy

Putting in solar panels in your home for solar energy is easy. However, you must consider a few issues before getting started. A major factor in choosing if you can use a solar system is the amount of sunlight your home receives on average. Shade is valuable in some respects, but when you are considering solar energy it can be a complicating factor.

Are you a farmer? If you do, then you probably own property. This might be an opportunity to rent a portion of that property to a company that will build a wind turbine on it. You and those around you can benefit from the free energy. A turbine doesn’t take up much space, either.

Take the time to clean or replace your furnace every season. Monthly checks will assure your furnace never has to work hard. It is also a good idea to install filters on warm-air registers. This stops debris from blocking heating ducts.

On hot, summer days, hang your clothes outside. You’ll love how your clothes smell after being sun-dried. They will smell better than anything coming out of a dryer. As well, you save quite a bit on monthly utility costs.

Don’t waste money or energy by running a half-full load of dishes. It’s sacrilege to turn it on with just one or two dishes inside. The dishwasher can actually fit a lot of dishes when loaded correctly. Set up the plates so that you fill it up as much as possible.

When thinking about home solar systems, think about how much energy will be produced during winter. This way, you aren’t beyond your capacity in the winter, and you have plenty of excess power in the summer. If your electric company bills on net usage, you will actually make money because yu generate more power than you consume.

Green Energy

Even though some people don’t believe global energy is anything to worry about, everyone can benefit from the use of green energy in their home. Green energy is cheap to use and easy to implement with some small, daily changes.

Organic Gardening Tips To Help You Ditch The Toxic Garden Chemicals

Just about anyone can become an organic gardener. It’s a fun, relaxing hobby that has a lot of benefits. But, if you’re just getting started, the various challenges of gardening can seem insurmountable. So, how should a beginning organic gardener learn the basics? This article will give you some great ideas to begin.

If you have a high priority for sustainability in your organic gardening, try leaving a corner of the property undeveloped as a mini wildlife refuge. The kind of birds and insects needed for pollination will be naturally present on your property and help with your organic garden.

If you’re growing plants indoors, keep your thermostat around 65 or 75 degrees daily. This level of heat is required in order for plants to grow. If you do not want to keep your home that warm during the winter months, you can get a heat lamp for the organic plants instead.

When growing organic plants indoors, it is important to consider the amount of light that is available to them. If you’re living in a home that doesn’t receive much sunlight, you should consider growing plants that thrive in environments with low to medium amounts of light. If you cannot achieve success merely through plant selection, consider using artificial light sources.

Seeds that have sprouted don’t require the extra warmth that was needed before they sprouted. Locate your plants further from your heat source as they mature. Additionally, remove any plastic films that were on your containers. This will keep out warmth and humidity. Watch your seeds closely to know how to go about this.

Working in the garden doesn’t have to be grueling; learn to work more efficiently. Do not waste your time looking for tools. You can prepare what you need beforehand, keep it all handy in a toolbox or a shed, and you will be ready to work in your garden at a moment’s notice. You may also wish to invest in a tool belt to keep all of your tools within reach while gardening.

Organic Gardening

These tips probably gave you some insight into how to enjoy organic gardening. Growing a garden the right way is a rewarding and relaxing experience. Follow the advice in this article to avoid the common pitfalls associated with organic gardening.

Community Development Financial Institutions

CDFI’s could be community development banks, community development credit unions, community development venture capital funds, micro-enterprise development loan funds, or community development corporations.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Ohio Heroes Program for Home Buyers

One of the most popular programs of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency is the Ohio Heroes Program which is exclusively intended for the active military, active reservists, veterans, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and several other groups with critical professions.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Grow Organic Produce For Your Family With These Tips

As the organic movement gains momentum, increasing numbers of people are being attracted to holistic lifestyles. Those who live this lifestyle grow their own foods for their health benefits and they tend to do this via organic horticulture. Read on into the following paragraphs for organic tips you can use.

Look for the variants of a plant that offer the highest yield. Many times, hybrid plants tend to resist disease, and tolerate the cold weather better than their traditional counterparts, resulting in higher yields.

Use your tool handles as rulers in the garden. It is possible to utilize tools with long handles, such as rakes, hoes and shovels, as measuring sticks. Lay the handles upon the floor and use a tape measure along side of them. Mark your distances with a permanent marker. Now you will always possess a large ruler ready for your use in the garden.

If you are going to be doing some gardening, watch out for stink bugs, especially in the fall! These destructive pests enjoy many kinds of fruit, as well as beans, peppers and tomatoes. If you don’t take care of them, they can decimate your garden, so it’s best to do all you can to get rid of them.

When the fall season arrives, it is time to plant your fall edibles. Rather than putting standard clay vessels into use when planting crops of lettuce and kale, think about using pumpkins instead. Simply cut the pumpkin open at the top, so you can remove the seeds and insides. After that, spray Wilt-Pruf along the edges and on the inside of the pumpkin, so it doesn’t rot. Once you have finished, you can begin planting.

Your organic gardening efforts will get easier as you pick up more and more tips and techniques about this activity. Keep in mind that the tips you have read are just the beginning point.

What You Need To Know About GovLoans

GovLoans is a website created by the United States Government to serve the public’s gateway to government loan information. At present, GovLoans hosts information on loan opportunities from five loan making agencies.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on nonprofit information, educational grants and Civic Engagement programs from around the world.

Strategies On Landscaping That You Need To Know

Does you home look kind of dull? If your answer is yes, some landscaping may be helpful. Just a token amount of landscaping can really make an old home look like a stunning piece of art. To get started, read this article, and try some of the tips you learn.

Native Plants

Using native plants from your area can help to avoid problems in the future. Native plants are a lot easier to take care of because they are used to the area’s climate and soil. This makes for a low-maintenance component to your yard. Any greenhouse can tell you which plants are ideally suited for your area.

If you are doing landscaping, you need to know the differences between annuals, perennials, as well as which plants survive and thrive in different geographical areas and climates. You need to be conscious of the seasons while landscaping as well. Being well-prepared beforehand will make your landscaping project go smoother and look more attractive all year long.

Water your plants with a drip-style system. This type of system continually provides water to your plants. Drip style systems are advantageous as well because they actually conserve water. Sprinkler systems, in contrast, are water hogs and don’t distribute a steady flow of water to the roots of the plants.

Make the most of your landscape by growing a garden suitable for many seasons. Select a wide variety of plants, with some blooming in each season, according to the region in which you live. You can use trees with cool foliage or evergreens which keep your garden looking nice all year.

If you are planning to put your home on the market, landscaping is worth considering. Landscaping your yard is a great way to increase the value of your house. Keep an eye on the yard out front to add to the home’s curb appeal. You can also make an inviting outdoor living area in your back yard.

You home will look more exciting with these landscaping tips. It can look so good your neighbors will think you hired someone to do the work! Just remember to use all the things you’ve learned here and you’ll eventually breathe new live to your property.