A non-tech subject most techs should be aware of

Just a caveat here, this isn't a fun subject. We all want to play with our networks and servers. Just understand that this is good medicine and it's going to help you help others and maybe get you a few new gig PoE switches!

If you're a VAR or tech consultant and you want to be good at what you do, you must know about grants and subsidies. The money could pay for your goods and services.

If you're a CIO or IT director at a private or public company and your company expects you to have a budget, you must know about grants and subsidies. The money could help you achieve initiatives and/or save the company money.

If you're an IT director or sys admin for local or state government facilities, you definitely have a budget and should know about grants and subsidies. Schools, libraries and medical facilities are prime examples where there is free money out there to pay for telephone and Internet costs, buy servers and much more.

Here's an example that recently popped up on our radar...

Rural Utility Service announced the availability of $4.7 BILLION in grants and loans to bring broadband Internet access to un-served or under-served rural communities. This money is for infrastructure development. One of the goals of this initiative is to "provide broadband access, education, awareness, training, equipment, and support to community anchor institutions (e.g., schools, libraries, medical facilities)". http://broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/files/BB%20NOFA%20FINAL%20with%20disclaimer_1.pdf

There is also money for private and publicly owned companies who move some or all of their business into HUB zones. A HUB zone is a Historically Underutilized Business zone. The government wants to increase business and industry in these areas. http://www.sba.gov/hubzone/section05b.htm

Here's a website to check out: http://www.usac.org/default.aspx

There are non-tech parts of being in a tech industry. Be a well rounded tech and people will see the value that you can add to their world.