This book provides a brief history of U.S. Government agencies that were retrieved from the agency websites and other sources. The purpose is to preserve that documentation. The editor is not attempting to copyright public documents. This book also shows how government agencies help organizations and individuals. Grants are one example as well as housing loans and employment assistance.
What is a Grant from the Government? A grant is one of the ways the government funds ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the economy. Grants support critical recovery initiatives, innovative research, and many other programs listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA).
The federal government typically awards grants to state and local governments, universities, researchers, law enforcement, organizations, and institutions planning major projects that will benefit specific parts of the population or the community as a whole.
Contrary to what you might see online or in the media, the federal government does not offer grants or “free money” to individuals to start a business, or cover personal expenses. However, the government offers federal benefit programs designed to help individuals and families in need become self-sufficient or lower their expenses.
Use the federal government’s free, official website, Grants.gov rather than commercial sites that may charge a fee for grant information or application forms. Grants.gov centralizes information from more than 1,000 government grant programs to help states and organizations find and apply for grants.
"Free" Grants and Grant Scams: If you received information stating you qualify for a "free grant," it is probably a scam. Get information from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help you learn to recognize and avoid grant scams. If you have been a victim of a grant scam, you can file a complaint with the FTC.
The most common type of financial help from the government for home repairs or modifications is through home improvement loan programs backed by the government. The loans are through traditional lenders, like banks, but the programs help these lenders make loans that they might normally not fulfill. Some programs are available on a nationwide basis, while others are only on a state or county level. To learn about the options available to you, contact your local Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office.
The Department of Labor has released new information about landing a high paying job — with and without a college education. Here are some highlights:
Learn more about jobs that pay more than the median today at: https://medium.com/@USDOL/want-to-make-the-big-bucks-try-one-of-these-jobs-b7d8ecbf4413#.sa9gegpwf
It can be overwhelming to search for dependable information about government services and benefits. USAGov is your starting point--the official federal program that guides you to the information you need from across government. Browse or search for the agencies and programs you need on USA.gov or its Spanish language counterpart, GobiernoUSA.gov. If you’d rather talk to a person, the USAGov Contact Center at 1-844-USA-GOV1 is there for you.
How Can the USAGov Contact Center Help You? The Contact Center handles more than 800,000 inquiries a year, answering questions for free on scores of topics including: