[nabentre] Entrepreneurship training, business grants and loans for blind entrepreneurs

Fri Feb 24 14:46:30 UTC 2012

If I may make a suggestion, in any instance having a solid business plan is
key to getting funding, either through the state, or other lending
insitutions. The small business development  centers are very effective at
guiding people of all abilities through the process from beginning to end.
securing funding for a start up in these economic times can be difficult at
best. however, one option, offered through the cbvh are access to supplies
and such valued at upwards of 15k. additionally, grants are tough to come by
when starting a for profit. There are benefits to joining networks or
organizations supporting the focus of your business and could prove
veneficial for advice and inside track knowledge to help make you more
successful. I know others have spoken about scores, which is a volunteer
organization with a network of professionals who volunteer time to help
prospective business owners chart a course for success. For those interested
in approaching the cbvh for supports, chances are most of the counselors may
not be away of these options. I think I have a copy of the program overview
of which I refer. Should anyone want it write me off list and I can share it
with you once I dig it up. I really had great success with working with the
sbdc and was able to establish my non profit with their guidance and
assistance.
.a

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
www.myblindspot.org
PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

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-----Original Message-----
From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Philip S
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2012 9:26 AM
To: NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nabentre] Entrepreneurship training, business grants and loans
for blind entrepreneurs

Cheryl,
If you dont mind me asking for more details. Did you not get the
grants and loans you applied for because you didn't have tax
documents, receipts, etc.? Or did you have these things and they still
turned your application down?
Thanks.
Philip

On 2/24/12, Philip S <philso1003 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks all for your valuable input and suggestions.  I'll definitely
> look into all the resources you mention.
> Have any of you or disabled entrepreneurs you know tried obtaining
> small loans from microfinance institution?
> The impression I am getting from your responses is that if you have
> tax-returns documents, receipts, good business plans, there are many
> business grants or financial support opportunities for blind
> entrepreneurs at the state level. Would that be a fair statement?
> Thanks again.
> Phil
>
>
> On 2/23/12, Zeeshan Khan <zeek786 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Please check out many different crorwdfunding companies that help start
>> ups
>> such as kickstarter and such or go to crowdsourcing. org for more
>> companies
>> there.
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 1:38 PM, cheryl echevarria <
>> cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Being a business owner here on Long Island, I have applied for grants,
>>> but
>>> never gotten one. I applied for a bank loan, but you must be in business
>>> over 2 years to qualify for one, and show them all taxes and receipts,
>>> all
>>> spending that you did on the business.  You can google grants for your
>>> type
>>> of business, I also applied as a woman owned business, as a disabled
>>> person.  I also applied to the CBVH here in NY State for funds, but you
>>> must submit to them a business plan, and show them receipts for
>>> everything
>>> and they will reimburse you on it.  It also has to be an approved item,
>>> if
>>> it is not then they won't pay for it.
>>> Try the small business organization in your town and state and see what
>>> they have to offer.
>>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>>
>>> Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
>>>
>>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>> http://www.echevarriatravel.com
>>> 631-456-5394
>>> reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>>>
>>> For daily updates read our blog at
>>> http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
>>>
>>> > From: gabias at telus.net
>>> > To: nabentre at nfbnet.org
>>> > Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:42:16 -0800
>>> > Subject: Re: [nabentre] Entrepreneurship training,    business grants
>>> and  loans for blind entrepreneurs
>>> >
>>> > The answer to your question depends in part on what sort of business
>>> you're
>>> > planning.  The Small Business Administration (in theory) has loans and
>>> > grants, but the competition is fierce!  They can put you in contact
>>> > with
>>> > SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives.  SCORE members offer
>>> help in
>>> > creating a business plan and have been known to help entrepreneurs
>>> > find
>>> > funding sources.
>>> >
>>> > Remember that vocational rehabilitation also provides funding for
>>> business
>>> > start ups.  If you can create a strong case and do your homework, you
>>> > can
>>> > get funding from your state agency.  Many rehabilitation counselors
>>> > have
>>> a
>>> > background in social services rather than business, so it's extremely
>>> > important that you do the leg work in developing your business plan.
>>> > The
>>> > more developed your plan, the more likely you are to get it funded.
>>> >
>>> > I know of a man who is doing sales on eBay.  He wanted to expand his
>>> > business but needed money to purchase more inventory to sell.  He has
>>> > contacts in the liquidation business; he could purchase quantities of
>>> > discontinued products that have resale value.  Unfortunately, those
>>> > items
>>> > are available immediately or not at all.  By the time a purchase order
>>> could
>>> > be obtained from state government, the items in question would have
>>> > been
>>> > long gone.
>>> >
>>> > So this man got creative. He asked the state to buy him packing tape;
>>> lots
>>> > and lots of packing tape.  Packing tape never goes on clearance and is
>>> > a
>>> > fairly stably priced retail item.  So the state bought him several
>>> thousand
>>> > dollars worth of packing tape; because of the quantity involved, it
>>> > was
>>> > available at a discount.  Then the man sold the tape on eBay to help
>>> other
>>> > sellers in their business.  He was able to sell it for less than the
>>> > item
>>> > would cost in a store, even with shipping.  He saved all the money he
>>> > received from selling packing tape and had it available as cash to use
>>> when
>>> > fantastic liquidation deals became available.
>>> >
>>> > I'm not suggesting that you ask your state to buy you truckloads of
>>> packing
>>> > tape.  I'm suggesting that creative thinking may be required if you're
>>> going
>>> > to apply for rehabilitation help with your new business.
>>> >
>>> > If you check on the web, a number of sites promise to pitch your idea
>>> > to
>>> > potential investors.  Though such links can be very useful, I urge you
>>> > to
>>> > investigate carefully before you entrust your business ideas to them.
>>>  Like
>>> > any other sort of business, there are a few fraud artists mixed in
>>> > with
>>> the
>>> > honorable people.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>> > From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>> On
>>> > Behalf Of Brad Dunsé
>>> > Sent: February 23, 2012 4:14 AM
>>> > To: NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
>>> > Subject: Re: [nabentre] Entrepreneurship training, business grants and
>>> loans
>>> > for blind entrepreneurs
>>> >
>>> > Hadley has the Forsythe Center, an
>>> > on-line  modular course on various aspects of business. I've not taken
>>> any
>>> > myself. But you can find it at www.hadley.edu
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Brad
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On 2/23/2012  05:55 AM Philip S said...
>>> > >Hi group,
>>> > >My name is Phil.  I am an entrepreneur, and was wondering what types
>>> > > of
>>> > >resources are available to help blind entrepreneurs start their
>>> > >business?  Are there entrepreneurship training program, business
>>> > > grant,
>>> > >business loans specifically for people with disabilities that you are
>>> > >aware of?  What are your opinions of these programs? Have you thought
>>> > >about getting a grant or loan and where have you tried?
>>> > >Thanks!
>>> > >Phil
>>> > >
>>> > >_______________________________________________
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>>> > >music.com
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Brad Dunsé
>>> >
>>> > "If you can get to a bridge within 2.5 minutes from where ever you are
>>> > at
>>> > the moment...
>>> > You might be a songwriter." --Capt'n Frank
>>> >
>>> > http://www.braddunsemusic.com
>>> >
>>> > http://www.facebook.com/braddunse
>>> >
>>> > http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
>>> >
>>> >
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Zeeshan Khan
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