Disabled Firefighter Seeks Business Grant Money To Help Fellow Americans

by Gary Erb
(Fayetteville, Illinois, USA)

I am 57 years old and suffer from a condition called "severe nerve neuropathy" in both feet.

I have been married for over 36 years. I have 3 great kids and 2 wonderful grandkids.

I have not been in the military but am Red, White and Blue through and through.

I have been a volunteer firefighter for over 11 years. Unfortunately, my disabilities prevent me from running into burning buildings to rescue people. Now I run the radio dispatch.

I am also a Shriner. For those who recognize the name, you know what it means. For those that don't, it means that I am a part of the oldest fraternity in the world that has one mission: help children who have disabilities or who have suffered burns from fires.

As you can see, I believe in helping others. Now, with your help, I can take the 25 plus years of experience working with real estate and help others.

Without medication for my foot condition, I suffer from indescribable pain and tremors in my feet and legs.

With medication I can function for a short time but know that I have to limit my time standing or suffer the consequences.

This condition surfaced about 7 years ago.

The doctors that diagnosed and treated my condition concluded that several factors played a part in the failure of the bones in my feet that led to the damage of the nerves.

At present, there is no cure for this affliction.

My disability prohibits me from standing for more than a few minutes but if the nerves activate, only lying down gives relief.

That makes it impossible to work for someone else at a regular job. Prior to receiving SSDI, I had no insurance or money to pay for any of the medications that I needed, so I went for years without medications or treatments.

In addition, I was home bound because I had no money to purchase a vehicle to get me to a doctor.

During this 2 plus year period with no income, the stress of seeing no future for me and with the daily pain I had to endure, I ended up in the hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown.

My wife and I are still paying on these bills.

I had no income from the time I lost my job until I started receiving SSDI almost 3 years later. There were no unemployment benefits, no grants and no donations.

It was only my wife's income to sustain us. I did try a "work-at-home" business that failed because my disability would not allow me to devote the time it demanded which eventually led to us being financially drained.

With renewed purpose, I am looking for a grant that would give me the financial resources to use my 25 years of experience in the housing market to hire and train the people I need to fulfill my dream of helping others.

I want to have a business that offers help to people so they can make the right decisions about selling or buying a home.

My business will offer affordable services to those who aren't knowledgeable about today's real estate markets.

The grant money will provide the gas for the vehicle to make this happen.

My company will provide affordable services to:

(1) Locate and evaluate properties to buy, sell or rent
(2) Provide assistance and advice on financing options available
(3) Purchase property from clients to enable them to move
(4) Offer marketing consultant services that focus on helping people market their homes for a quick sale

Our Business Plan includes:

(1) The extensive use of the Internet (Website, E-mail, Twitter)
(2) The use of real estate advertising companies such as RealtyTrac, Zillow, For-Sale-By-Owner, etc.
(3) Research of court records and newspaper announcements
(4) Property locators (Or "Bird Dogs") in the field
(5) Signs, cards, posters, knocking on doors and referrals

Projected Costs for the First Year:

(1) Business Startup Costs - $15,000
(2) Operating Reserve - $75,000
(3) Salaries & Benefits - $100,000
(4) Vehicle operating costs - $9,600
(5) Personnel training - $4,000
(6) Advertising & Subscriptions - $25,000
(7) Utilities, rent, insurance - $14,400
(8) Office Expense - $2,400

Projected Annual Gross Revenues:

First Year - $108,400
Second Year - $119,240
Third Year - $131,160
Fourth Year - $144,280
Fifth Year - $158,708