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SMALL BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM
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The Small Business Construction Support Grant Program will provide financial support in the form of grants to micro and small business owners whose businesses are located in an area impacted by City-initiated construction projects that are ongoing as of February 1, 2024, have been undergoing construction for at least 12 months and impact at least 10 businesses. The program, funded by the City of San Antonio and administered by LiftFund, has dedicated $1,459,168 in funding to support for-profit small businesses with grants between $5,000 and $35,000.
Thank you for your interest in this program!
The application period has now closed. See Program Timeline below for more details.
Grant Awards
The grants will range from $5,000 to $35,000 to eligible small, for-profit businesses. Qualified applicants will be eligible for up to 100% of the difference in net income in 2023 compared to 2022.
The funds must be used for business-related expenses, including payroll/healthcare benefits, contract labor, working capital, business rent or mortgage payments for business property, supplier payments, machinery and equipment, critical operating expenses, utility payments for business locations (does not include personal residence).
Program dates and guidelines are subject to change.
The following limitations apply:
- Applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award.
- Only one grant may be awarded per business with more than one location.
- Limited to one grant per physical address within City of San Antonio.
To be eligible for this program, businesses must:
- Have a minimum of $10,000 gross sales in 2022.
- Applicant has owned the business and has a formation date on or before 1/1/2022.
- Be a retail or service business that requires customer foot traffic for operations.
- Meet the SBA Size standard for small business based on your 6-digit NAICS code.
- Demonstrate net profit/loss in 2022 that is at least $5,000 greater than net/profit loss in 2023. Net profit/loss is based on Line 29 of Schedule C, Line 30 of 1120, Line 21 of 1120S or Line 22 of 1065
- Be currently in operation and not have filed for bankruptcy during duration of application process.
- Be located within an eligible construction zone and remain for one year from date of grant award. Check if your business address is located within a construction zone at our COSA Construction Zone Check.
- Not be in the following categories: non-profits, gambling/gaming businesses; franchisors; sexually oriented businesses; payday & auto loan providers; liquor stores and businesses in which a City employee or officer has a financial interest, as defined in Sec. 2-53 of the City’s Ethics Code. See list of prohibited activities.
- Applicant must be majority owner of the business, or equal share owner with a partner.
- Grant awards are limited to one per business at each physical address within the City of San Antonio. Grant applicants with multiple businesses in eligible construction zones are eligible to receive more than one grant award if the applicant can financially differentiate between the businesses (e.g., provide separate financial statements for each business) and each business meets all of the eligibility criteria.
- Current Driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
- Proof of business registration with Bexar County or TX Secretary of State.
- Proof of business address: utility bill (water, gas, electric), current lease, or monthly rental invoice.
- 2022 and 2023 filed business tax return. Applicants without a filed tax return for both years will not be considered. Acceptable return formats are Schedule Cs, 1120, 1120S and 1065.
- Most recent business bank statement
- Q1 2024 Form 941 or Q1 2024 payroll report (if the business hires employees in addition to the owner)
Applications will be assessed and scored based on the five components below. The maximum score is 100. Applications with the highest scores will be reviewed, approved, notified and funded first (if eligible).
| Construction Project Duration | Points |
| As of application opening (June 17, 2024) | |
| 36 months or more | 20 |
| 19 – 35 months | 15 |
| 18 months or less | 10 |
| Prior Assistance Received | Points |
| Includes 2022 construction supplement and/or 2023 COVID/Construction Impact Grant | |
| No prior assistance received | 20 |
| Net Loss (2023 vs. 2022) | Points |
| 50% or greater | 20 |
| 30% or greater | 15 |
| 10% or greater | 10 |
| Time in Business Relative to Duration of Impacting Construction | Points |
| Years business open before the start of construction (based on date of formation document) | |
| 5 years or more before construction start | 20 |
| 2 – 5 years before construction start | 15 |
| < 2 years before construction start | 10 |
| On or after construction start | 0 |
| Equity Atlas Income-Only Score of Business Address | Points |
| 4 – 5 | 20 |
| 3 | 10 |
| 1 – 2 | 0 |
Application period: June 17 – July 15, 2024
Applicants will be able to save their progress during the application period. Applications must be completed and submitted along with all the documentation required for verification before 4:59:59 PM CST on Monday July 15, 2024.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email when they submit the application.
Application review: July 23 – September 16, 2024
The grants team will reach out to applicants by phone or email if additional documents or clarification is needed. If additional documents are requested, applicants will have 5 business days to submit.
Award notifications: July 30– September 23, 2024
Eligible applicants with the highest scores based on the methodology above will be notified earlier within that time frame, followed by lower scoring applicants. All applicants, even if ineligible or not selected for funding, will be notified by September 30.
Selected recipients will be notified of approval and accept the grant via an emailed Docusign form.
Grant disbursements: August 6 – September 30, 2024
Eligible applicants with the highest scores based on the methodology above will be funded earlier within that time frame, followed by lower scoring applicants.
All recipients will be required to complete follow-up surveys in April 2025 and April 2026.
Need Assistance with CPS or SAWS Payment Options?
Grants for Women Owned Businesses
Other Local Resources
The City of San Antonio is available to assist with information and referrals to additional programs that can help your business. For assistance, please contact 210-207-3924 or [email protected] for more information.
Grants
Women Founders Network (Women-owned businesses)
Amber Grants (For women only)
National Black MBA Association (Black owned businesses)
GrantWatch (Tracks grants for veterans)
Halstead Grant (Female entrepreneurs in jewelry industry)
IdeaCafe Grant (Preference for women)
EBay Up and Running (Business owners who sell on Ebay)
Visa MENA She’s Next Grant Program (Female, Middle Eastern, North African business owners, next round 2023)
Tandy Leather Together Foundation (Businesses in the leather industry who are Tandy Leather customers)
INFO SESSION WEBINAR
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as long as your business is registered with a DBA and you can demonstrate that customers physically visit your business location and you meet all other eligibility criteria.
No, your business must be physically located in the city and in a qualified construction zone.
You are welcome to get assistance in completing the application from a third party, however, the business owner should submit their own application and the contact info listed should be for the owner.
This grant application is free to submit and the LiftFund grant team can answer questions. Do not pay a third party for application assistance. Third parties are not vetted by LiftFund or the City of San Antonio for this program.
You will be asked to submit a current business utility bill as part of the application.
You can submit a copy of your business lease agreement.
Yes. LiftFund will issue a 1099 in January 2025.
QUESTIONS?
Call 800-923-9551
Email [email protected]
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