COVID-19/Construction Recovery Grants program
The COVID-19/Construction Recovery Grants 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 began after January 1, 2020, have a projected project duration of at least 12 months and were ongoing as of December 1, 2022. The program, funded by the City of San Antonio and administered by LiftFund, has dedicated $3,740,000 in funding to support for-profit small businesses with grants up to $35,000.
Status Update: Application Review & Award Notification Stage
We are currently reviewing submitted applications and simultaneously notifying selected recipients. The review progress will be ongoing through May 19th. All applicants will be notified by June 2. For more details about the program timeline, please refer to the Program Timeline section below.
Grant Awards
The grants will range from $10,000 to $35,000 to eligible small, for-profit businesses. Grant amount will be 2021 net profit/loss minus the 2022 net profit/loss not to exceed the maximum grant amount of $35,000.Grant recipients who were awarded the construction supplement through the City of San Antonio COVID Impact grant are eligible for this program, however, the award amount will be reduced by $10,000.
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 2021.
- Be a retail or service business with a store front location that requires customer foot traffic for operations or can demonstrate that customers physically visit your business location.
- Meet the SBA Size standard for small business.
- Demonstrate net profit/loss in 2021 that is at least $10,000 greater than net/profit loss in 2022. 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 in operation prior to January 1, 2021 and be established at current location prior to 1/1/21.
Be currently in operation and not have filed for bankruptcy at time of application
- Be located within an eligible construction zone and remain for one year from date of grant award. To check if your business address is located within a construction zone, click here.
- 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 here.
- Applicant must be majority owner of the business.
- Current Driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
- Proof of business registration with Bexar County or TX Secretary of State.
- 3rd quarter 2022 Form 941or 3rd quarter 2022 payroll report
- Business utility bill (water, gas, electric). Home based businesses may provide a home utility bill.
- 2021 filed business tax return. Acceptable return formats are Schedule Cs, 1120, 1120S and 1065.
- 2022 business tax return or 2022 profit and loss statement
Grant funds will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be assessed and scored based on the four components below. The maximum score is 120. Applications with the highest scores will be reviewed, approved, notified and funded first (if eligible).
| Reduction in Net Revenue from 2021 to 2022 | Points |
| 30% or greater | 30 |
| 15 – 29.9% | 20 |
| Up to 14.9% | 10 |
| % of SBA Size Standard | Points |
| Less than 20% | 30 |
| 20-39% | 25 |
| 40-59% | 20 |
| 60-79% | 15 |
| 80% or Greater | 10 |
| Equity Atlas Score | Points |
| 8-10 | 30 |
| 5-7 | 20 |
| 1-4 | 10 |
| Construction Project Duration | Points |
| Greater than 30 months | 30 |
| 24 to 30 months | 20 |
| Less than 24 months | 10 |
* Click here to learn more about the equity score
Application period: February 13 – February 28, 2023
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 Tuesday February 28, 2023.
Applicants will receive a confirmation email when they submit the application.
Application review: March 1 – May 19, 2023
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: March 13 – May 26, 2023
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 June 9.
Selected recipients will be notified of approval and accept the grant via an emailed Docusign form.
Grant disbursements: March 20 – June 2, 2023
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 January 2024 and January 2025. Grant recipients must keep detailed receipts for expenditure of grant funds.
Need Assistance with CPS or SAWS Payment Options?
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 SmallBizInfo@sanantonio.gov for more information.
Grants
Impacto Grant (Latinx owned, food industry businesses)
Fedex (Next round in 2023)
Women Founders Network (Women-owned businesses, next round in 2023)
Amber Grants (For women only)
National Black MBA Association (Black owned businesses, next round in 2023)
GrantWatch (Tracks grants for veterans)
Halstead Grant (Female entrepreneurs in jewelry industry, next round 2023)
IdeaCafe Grant (Preference for women, next round 2023)
EBay Up and Running (Business owners who sell on Ebay, next round 2023)
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
FEB
16
THUR
4:00 - 5:00 PM
COSA Construction Impact grant info session
FEB
21
TUES
12:00 - 1:00 PM
COSA Construction Impact grant info session
GET HELP WITH THE APPLICATION
Contact one of our partners for in-person assistance with the grant application.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
here are 7 community partners who have been vetted and trained to assist business owners to submit the application free of charge. Do not pay a third party who is not on the list for application assistance.
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 2024.
Call 800-923-9551
Email SBgrants@liftfund.com