The NGC speaker was very earnest and energetic, as he wove a tapestry of untold opportunity. My only knowledge of government grants was what I had gleaned from watching Matthew Lesko jump around in a green suit, with dollar signs all over it.

NGC takes a much more serious approach to informing you about the grant and loan opportunities available, from the United States government. The NGC spokesperson I saw is adamant about his leaving a high profile, executive position, to tour the country, bringing this important knowledge to the masses.

As far as I can tell, everything NGC says at these free teaser conferences is the absolute truth. There is, each year, a whole bunch of money the government makes available to persons and organizations who qualify. NGC explains that some of the money is in the form of outright grants, which don't have to be paid back, and some are subsidized loans, which have extremely loan interest rates, or are even forgiven, if certain stipulations are met.

NGC goes on to explain that if this money is not used, it will be given back to the sources which provide it. These sources are Foundations, and government agencies which are funded every year by taxes and passed bills. I do not know the validity of these claims, but knowing our bureaucracy, I wouldn't doubt it.

The first things NGC wants to sell you, are this years resource manuals, which identify the monies available, and the specifics of who qualifies for them. There are two large manuals, and they are updated yearly. A lot of people buy these outright, and go off to make their way through the maze of government regulations.

Next, NGC will tell you that it can be extremely difficult to correctly fill out all the forms required to qualify for government money. So, NGC offers a two day workshop, to help you properly utilize your purchased resource materials. The cost of this workshop is only $1900.00, and it is usually within two or three days.

I went to this workshop, and the person leading it was the Director of NGC's business division. This person had built a successful business in Real Estate, and been hired to lead NGC's business division. The NGC workshop was detailed instruction of using the materials to identify and qualify what was available and for whom.

In addition, NGC had you think of what you wanted to do, and had you put a cursory business plan together, for presentation to a banker or loan officer. All in all, it was a very informative and productive class for teaching you how to utilize NGC's materials. I actually believe it could be done by the right person. However, NGC then points out, how nitpicky the government can be about the paperwork. If it isn't perfect, NGC advises your applications will most certainly be rejected. NGC also informs you that there are highly paid grant writers, who are very experienced in producing these documents. The competition for these government dollars is fierce, according to NGC, and you must have a sound plan.

To help you in your quest, NGC has a complex organization in place, and you are a member for one year, just by having purchased the materials. You can be assigned an experienced counselor, to help guide you through the process. NGC warns that because the demand for help is so high, that these counselors are reactive.

Finally, at the end of the workshop, NGC's Director informed us that they needed new testimonials for their campaign. They were putting together a team to mentor new clients. To be a part of this team, and be mentored by one of their specialists, was going to cost you another couple of thousand dollars.

After eight weeks of putting together a plan, and making initial contacts in my community, I was left on my own, with a "sounds like you're on the right track". I do not feel the experience was worth the time and money invested.