North Platte businesses are the target of an automated “robo” call campaign that promises free grant funding. I just received one of the calls, and pressed “1” for more information.

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The company representative immediately tried to get details about me and my company. stopped her and asked for information about her company. She promptly hung up.

I urge caution should you receive such a call. There are thousands of different grants, both public and private, made each year in the USA. However, any person or company promising (or implying) they have a grant for your company, is about to scam you.

Remember the TV ads of a guy wearing a trench coat covered with dollar signs, standing in front of Congress? He made the same promise and all you got for your $$ was a list of federal grant and grantee resources, none of which could be accessed by the average Joe.

By Dan Mauk, Director, North Platte Chamber of Commerce