Free Money and Free Help You Are Probably Not Using
Aug 4, 2026 · 4 min read
Every week I talk to someone paying for something they could get free.
Your local workforce board
Federally funded career centers offer free coaching, free training vouchers, and job placement help. Look yours up in the Community & Government Resources section.
SCORE mentoring
Free, ongoing, one-on-one mentoring from people who have run businesses. You can request a mentor in your industry and switch if it is not a fit.
SBA planning tools
If you are starting something, the SBA business plan tool is better than most paid templates — and lenders already recognize its structure.
None of this requires a pitch or a credential. It requires filling out a form and showing up.
Related resources from the hub
Tagged Community & Government Resources — these go with what you just read.
CareerSpring Career Platform
A free career platform for first-generation and/or low-income students, graduates and career seekers. It offers career exploration, job-search skills, professional networking and employment resources. Joining requires a request and account activation.
Civic Tech Field Guide
A curated directory of projects, tools, and organizations using technology for democracy and the common good.
US Department of Labor awards $95.5M in grants to support innovative programs for reskilling, reemploying dislocated workers
October 19, 2026 announcement of Rapid Reskill Dislocated Worker Grants supporting 20 projects across 17 states. Lists recipients and funding amounts for training and employment services for workers affected by layoffs; this is a funding announcement, not a direct individual grant application.