Posted on 07/04/2008 5:20:08 PM PDT by SandRat
DIWANIYA — A local welder received financial support from a Coalition forces microgrant progam last week.
Rasad Abass is a local welder on the outskirts of Diwaniya; he and his welding colleague have more than 20 years of welding experience. His business provides metal goods from door hinges to artistic metal designs.
Unfortunately, their business’s productivity is limited due to the inadequate power capacity, small-voltage-electric welder and limited employees, Abass said.
That all changed for Abass when he received a $2,500 grant to put into shop repairs, generators and welding equipment.
“I didn’t think that the American’s would come through with this help, but I was wrong. Thank you,” Abass said.
Now, with the proper equipment to support Abass’s welding business, he can also hire some apprentices, said Lt. Joseph Weston, Reconnaissance Security Team Platoon Leader.
“It is really great that we are able to help these welders out,” Weston said. “This little bit of help will go a long way in their small community.”
The program provides Iraqi merchants, who live on less than one U.S. dollar a day, with small grants to help re-establish their business.
But .... This kind of help, if freely given and willingly accepted, is much more effective than billions in the oil-for-fraud-in-the-UN program.
Sorry for running a little late meeting your needs, we were too busy saving your country and putting back it’s infrastructure so that you could live in safety with a full belly.
Gotta’ give us a minute. ;-)
… At least he said “thank you”…
I always doubt that the government’s going to give me anything other than the shaft too.
LOL! Point taken. ;-)
Does he have to repay this grant?
Ya know,.. I just don’t know.
Does he have to repay this grant?”
Only if he was a white American.
“To date [June 2, 2008], there have been over 1,000 residents of Sadr City that have walked in, filed claims, and many of those we’ve paid out, totaling to date over $70,000. Now, currently there are nine funded projects, totaling over $1.1 million, and 23 microgrants paid out, totaling over $57,000.” - Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.