Funding: Money speaks for itself!

Sources of financing are extremely important in the entertainment world. While participating in the business plan development courses at Full Sail University I have been introduced to several alternative funding programs. One of the greatest challenges with staring a business and stepping out on faith is the need for financing.There is a great deal of need for Angel investors and alternative funding sources. Please see the information that I have providing below on two of the alternative funding sources that I have researched within this past week: http://www.eda.gov/ and http://www.firstnations.org/.

The First Nations Organization is better known as The first Nations development institute and their site is, http://www.firstnations.org/. The First Nations development institute has a goal of empowering American Indian economies. They offer grant support to tribes and Native nonprofit organizations to support culturally appropriate, asset based development efforts. The organization offers both financial and technical assistance. However, First Nation requirements that all applicants be legal American Indian and to tribes. Their is another organization better known as the US Economic Development Administration. The EDA encourages programs that promote business expansion and job growth. They also support key initiatives throughout regional areas across the United States, thereby developing economic stability through intergovernmental and public/private sector collaboration. US Economic Development Administration can be located at www.eda.gov. This organization offers federal funding opportunities which include the accellerator challenge competition, University Center Economic Development Program, development assistance programs and several other programs. The US Economic Development Administration has 5 core evaluation requirements which include: 1. National strategic priorities 2. Distressed and underserved communities 3. Return on investment 4. Collaborative regional innovation 5. Public/private partnerships Within 15 days of reciept, all applications will be evaluated for completeness. Applications are also considered in for cycles and grants that are accepted will be published on the website at www.grants.gov. Other types of information available on the eda.gov site includes, program funding opportunities, articles on economic inititives, research tools and contact information. Infomation also provided on the firstnations.org/ includes policy training, research program publication, email alerts, updates and an opportunity to donate online. Today has been great, tomorrow will be even better! Until next time!