It is Mom And Pop Grant Time at the County. By Geniusofdespair

Apparently the dates and amounts differ by Commission District. Rebeca Sosa gives $1,000 to $3,000 and the dates are Feb. 18 to March 10th. Bell gives up to $2,000 for home based businesses and up to $4,000 for commercial based businesses. Bell accepts the applications from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21. Sally Heyman stopped accepting grant applications Feb. 7th and hers were for up to $3,000. Souto gives up to $5,000 and you have until Feb. 21. I would apply for one except you have to attend a mandatory workshop. Between filling out the paper work and attending a workshop, it is hardly worth even $1,000.  Here is a sample form. You still have time in most commission districts.

To me it is a waste of our tax dollars. Read my July 1, 2013 post about them. In some districts nearly 1/2 were out of business a few years later. The ones still in business were mostly professionals, like accountants, who really don't need our grants to begin with.

I think this is a good way to fund libraries, stop these stupid grants.

Frank Nero Gone. By Geniusofdespair

Robin Reiter-Faragalli

Robin Reiter Faragalli is the interim President of the Beacon Council. The county commission and the Mayor must be happy. Happiest of all should be Lynda Bell who was gunning for Nero. Now the Commissioners can divide up the funds that go to the Beacon Council for their loser Mom and Pop grants in their districts, that curry them favor.

How many of the those Mom and Pop businesses that we give grants to are still in business? We will know that soon enough. More important are they creating jobs?

I don't think Kulture Klothes by Isis, Freedom Wings, or Kemistry Hair Gallery will be doing any hiring soon. Kulture Klothes has been an inactive corporation since 9/22/2000, Freedom Wings, has been inactive since 9/24/2010 and Kemistry Hair Gallery has been an inactive corporation since 9/26/2008 according to Sunbiz. All 3 were recipients of a 2009-2010 Mom and Pop Grant. As I warned a reader, be careful what you wish for.