Texas Local Grants

The City of San Antonio is seeking applications for its Small Business Construction Support Grant Program to provide financial support in the form of grants to eligible micro and small business owners whose businesses are located in an area impacted by City-initiated construction projects. Donor Name: City of San Antonio State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: 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. Eligibility Criteria Have a minimum of $10,000 gross sales in 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 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. 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. For more information, visit City of San Antonio.

The United Way of Tarrant County has launched the Veterans Fund to support military service members returning to civilian life in the Tarrant County area, including counseling, career and financial coaching, addiction treatment and other high-priority needs. Donor Name: United Way of Tarrant County State: Texas County: Tarrant County (TX) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details:   Funding Information Approximately $300,000 in available funding. Funding Period January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible, organizations must be active nonprofit or civic organizations or institutions with a history of addressing or the capacity to address the needs/services of veterans, active-duty members, and their families in Tarrant County. For the purposes of this RFP, a veteran is defined as a service member of any era or current member of the U.S. Armed Forces or its Reserve or National Guard component who has been federally activated outside of training. Veteran dependents include spouses, sons, daughters (including stepchildren and adopted children) of Texas veterans. Surviving spouses must be widowed to receive case management services. For more information, visit United Way of Tarrant County.

The City of Irving is offering a Neighborhood Association Grant Program, providing funds between $1000 to $10,000 for projects that foster community spirit, such as communication initiatives, neighborhood identity enhancements, physical improvements, special events, and participation in the Great Flag Caper initiative, with applications due by October 23, 2024.

This program provides financial assistance to property owners in Seguin's Downtown Historic District for exterior improvements that enhance the historic character and aesthetic of their buildings.

The City of Austin's Equity Office is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 to support community-driven initiatives, particularly grassroots organizations, that address immigrant inclusion, solidarity with unhoused people, and anti-displacement efforts in the Austin-Travis County area, with priority given to applicants with annual operating budgets not exceeding $500,000.

The City of Killeen Small Business Relief Program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, provides financial assistance to small businesses in Killeen that experienced financial hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program aims to stabilize these businesses and mitigate additional adverse economic impacts. Small businesses can request up to $10,000. Applications opened on February 1, 2022, and will remain open until funds are fully allocated. Eligible businesses must be operational prior to March 2020, operate from a retail storefront within Killeen, have 50 or fewer employees, and have experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19.

The Water Resources Preservation Grant Program, funded by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA), provides cost-share funding to support the design and construction of stormwater management practices. These practices, referred to as Best Management Practices (BMPs), include Low Impact Development (LID), nature-based solutions, and Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). The goal is to reduce, infiltrate, filter, and delay stormwater runoff, thus protecting the health of waterways in Kerr County. Eligible projects can apply for rebates that cover a portion of the costs associated with these practices, with the aim of reducing pollutants like Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Bacteria by significant percentages. The program supports new constructions or retrofits, emphasizes distributed and centralized treatment methods, and requires adherence to specific design guidelines.

The Elevate grant seeks to provide funding in support of arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, and creative businesses that produce culturally vibrant and diverse artistic content for the public. Donor Name: City of Austin State: Texas County: Bastrop County (TX), Caldwell County (TX), Hays County (TX), Travis County (TX), Williamson County (TX) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This funding supports the creative, administrative, and operational expenses of creative activities for the people of Austin and its tourists. This investment in Austin’s cultural producers will elevate the City’s diverse arts and culture tourism sector, amplify equity, and prioritize inclusive programming. Key Elements  Minimum of one-year history of producing arts and culture activities in the Austin metro area Must produce over 50% of public arts/culture activities within the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) Applicants who prefer to work with a Fiscal Sponsor may do so. Fiscal Sponsorship is not required.  Awards will be based on alignment with Elevate’s funding priorities.  Annual operating budget is not a factor in determining award amounts. Applications will be reviewed and scored by trained outside review panelists. Funding Information Elevate for Non-Profits $40,000-$80,000. Elevate for individuals and creative businesses $15,000-$30,000. Funding Priority Activities that pay local artists and artistic administrators Activities that engage in community-based partnerships Applicants and activities with a commitment to equity  Equity is represented in leadership  Applicants who represent the diverse cultures of Austin, particularly those who are from backgrounds that have been historically under-represented in Austin’s Cultural Funding programs. Applicants that are representative of, serve, and are accountable to communities that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. This may include applicants that directly serve Black/African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities or LGBTQIA+ and/or disability communities. Eligibility Criteria Applicant Type: 501(c) nonprofit arts organization, An individual aged 18 or older, Creative Business Maximum Annual Expenses: None, $500,000, $500,000 Maximum Request Amount: $80,000, $30,000, $30,000 Your artistic goals or creative mission is the production of arts and culture activities. This includes organizations that provide professional support to creatives. Minimum of one year of operating history in the Austin metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes:  Travis Bastrop,  Caldwell,  Hays,  and Williamson Counties. Over 50% of your creative production is within the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Proposed activity meets all program requirements as outlined by the Hotel Occupancy Tax.  All events are open to the public  Occur within Austin or the Austin ETJ Marketed to tourists  Or applicant is an arts service organization Applicants cannot accept more than one Cultural Arts Fund Grant (Thrive, Elevate, Nexus, or Austin Live Music Fund) per City of Austin Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30 annually). Sponsored Projects do not count towards this limit. City of Austin employees are not eligible to apply for funding. For more information, visit City of Austin Government.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and informal arts and culture groups for public arts and culture events and programs in Georgetown.

This program provides financial support to local businesses in Helotes, Texas, to help them establish or enhance their online sales presence through matching grants for e-commerce marketing initiatives.

The Town of Trophy Club's Thrive Business Grant Program offers matching grants to local businesses for improvement projects such as façade enhancements, interior renovations, and equipment purchases, aiming to boost economic growth and community prosperity, with the application deadline set for September 30, 2024.

The City of Marfa in Texas is offering an Advertising Reimbursement Grant Program, funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax, to groups and businesses that promote tourism and the hotel industry by advertising their events outside the local area, with a maximum award of $3,500, prioritizing those that generate overnight visitors and rent local facilities for their events.

City of San Marcos Minority Business Stabilization Fund (Texas) - The City of San Marcos is offering minority entrepreneurs and small business owners within corporate city limits the opportunity to apply for the Minority Business Stabilization Fund Program. This one-time grant assistance program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), provides direct aid to minority-owned businesses in San Marcos. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $10,000 based on the number of full-time employees and can be used for eligible expenses such as physical improvements, equipment, e-commerce expansion costs, rent, payroll, and operating expenses. To be eligible, businesses must have been in operation in San Marcos for at least 12 months, employ 1 to 25 full-time employees, and be at least 51% unconditionally owned by a socially disadvantaged individual. Only one grant may be awarded per business with multiple locations in San Marcos. For more information and to apply, visit City of San Marcos website.

The City of Athens is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Tourism Development Grant to promote tourism and attract overnight visitors to Athens. Donor Name: The City of Athens State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/22/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Projects must be specifically designed to attract overnight visitors to Athens. The Tourism Development Grant is open to eligible organizations or events located within the Athens city limits. The primary use of these funds is intended to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry in Athens. The City of Athens is under no obligation to allocate any portion of collected HOT revenues unless the City enters into a funding contract. Award of funds does not guarantee future funding. The City Council shall have the final decision regarding the allocation of funds. Types of Grants There is a two-part test that expenditures of local HOT funds must meet in order to be valid:  Part One: Expenditures must DIRECTLY enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.  Part Two: Expenditures of HOT funds must clearly fit into one of the following categories for expenditure of HOT revenues, which are defined below:  Advertising: Paying for advertising, solicitations, and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the City or its vicinity.  Promotion of the Arts: Expenditures that promote the arts. The encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of the arts, including instrumental and vocal music, dance, drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture, design and allied fields of painting, sculpture, photography, graphic and craft arts, motion pictures, radio, television, tape and sound recording, and other arts related to the presentation, performance, execution, and exhibition of these major art forms. (No more than 15% of annual Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax revenues can be spent on the arts.)  Sporting Event Promotion: Funding certain expenses, including promotional expenses directly related to a sporting event within counties with a population of fewer than one million. (To qualify, the sporting event must be one that would “substantially increase economic activity at hotels and motels within the city or its vicinity.”)  Tourist Transportation System: Funding transportation systems for tourists.  Signage: Signage directing tourists to sights and attractions that are visited frequently by hotel guests in and around the City Eligibility Requirements Tourism Promotion: As required by state law, all projects must encourage and promote the use of hotels and motels within Athens by enhancing and promoting tourism, conventions, and the hotel industry. Governance: The applicant must be an organization or corporation governed by a board of directors or similar governance structure. Location: The event must be located within the Athens city limits. Direct Benefit: The applicant must demonstrate that the funds will directly enhance and promote tourism, conventions, and the hotel industry by attracting visitors from outside of Athens. Legal Entity: The applicant must be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into contracts. Public Accessibility: The applicant must demonstrate that the programs or events are open and appropriate for the general public. Financial Standing: The applicant must demonstrate good financial standing and have financial safeguards in place to protect public funds. See the Financial Information section for more details. For more information, visit City of Athens.

The City of Austin is accepting applications for its Thrive Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Austin State: Texas County: Bastrop County (TX), Caldwell County (TX), Hays County (TX), Travis County (TX), Williamson County (TX) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Thrive Grant Program seeks to address a long-term need for intentional investment to support and develop arts organizations and cultural institutions of, by, and for communities that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin and/or have been institutionally marginalized and under-funded by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. Through funding, peer leadership, and networking, this program will make Austin’s diverse cultures more widely visible and accessible by providing funds to sustain and grow organizations that are deeply rooted in and reflective of those communities. Key Elements Thrive funds organizations that are community-centered and responsive to current social and cultural needs of Austin’s diverse communities. Applicants who show investment from and into their communities are encouraged to apply. Intersectionality in proposals is encouraged.  Thrive offers a cohort experience to support organizations in obtaining cultural institution status through: peer leadership  networking opportunities  Organization improvement goals will become part of the contract deliverables.  All eligible applicants who apply for Thrive but are not awarded will also be considered for Elevate. Funding Priorities Organizations that serve and are accountable to communities that are at immediate risk of cultural erasure and displacement within Austin. This may include organizations that directly serve Black/African American, Native American, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities.  Organizations that are representative of communities that experience other forms of institutional marginalization. This may include organizations that directly serve LGBTQIA+ and/or disability communities. Organizations that embody a commitment to equity through representation in leadership and program development. Applicants that have faced systemic barriers in obtaining institutional assets. Applicants that show a critical need for meaningful investment. Applicants that are ready for investment in long-term sustainability. What Foundation Funds All contracts funded by Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue are required to:  Produce activities that are open and advertised to Austin residents and tourists  Promote and enhance the City of Austin as a cultural destination Occur in Austin or its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) This program will offer additional investment in organization improvement. Examples of organization improvement include: Expanding public programming and audiences Establishing a reliable space for planning and presenting work Establishing new and/or more diversified revenue sources  Cohort participation to advance organization improvement goals Funding Information The Thrive award amounts range from $85,000 – $150,000 per year. Grant Period  2-year contract. Eligible Activities Activities related to the sustainability and growth of the organization. Examples: Expanding public programming and audiences Establishing a reliable space for planning and presenting work Establishing new and/or more diversified revenue sources  Operations related to the production of public events Exhibitions Performances Workshops, classes, and camps that include a performance or exhibition  Public art projects that are installed on public or private property and accessible to the public Eligibility Criteria 501(c) non-profit arts organization whose primary mission and over 50% of their body of work is the production of arts and culture. This includes organizations that provide professional support to creatives. 501(c) status can be new but must be active at the time of application. Minimum of five years of operating history in the Austin metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes:  Travis Bastrop,  Caldwell,  Hays,  and Williamson Counties. Over 50% of the applicant’s creative production is within the Austin 10-1 City Council districts or extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) Proposed activity meets all program requirements as outlined by the Hotel Occupancy Tax.  All events are open to the public  Occur within Austin or the Austin ETJ Marketed to tourists  Or applicant is an arts service organization Applicants cannot accept more than one Economic Development Department Grant (Thrive, Elevate, Nexus, or Austin Live Music Fund) per City of Austin Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30 annually). Sponsored Projects do not count towards this limit. City of Austin employees are not eligible to apply for funding. For more information, visit City of Austin Government.

Local non-profit organizations operating within the City of Victoria may be eligible to apply for grant funding for child safety and/or child abuse intervention/prevention programs or drug and alcohol abuse intervention and prevention programs for children. Donor Name: City of Victoria State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/16/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Funding for the program comes from the $1.50 child safety fee that is assessed when residents register their vehicles in Victoria County. This funding must be used for child safety and welfare services as defined by state law. In fiscal year 2024, the City of Victoria used the funds to provide grants for the following programs: A World for Children: “Bridging the Gap” program to help meet the needs of foster children Boys & Girls Club of Victoria: After-school programs for different age groups Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas: Supplies and training materials for CPR/first aid, mental health first aid and youth protection training Golden Crescent CASA: Program staff funding and occupancy expenses Hope of South Texas: Part-time therapist for children and families coping with the effects of abuse Mid-Coast Family Services: After-school programs and other activities for at-risk youth The Gabriel Project of the Golden Crescent: Program staff funding and supplies Categories Child Safety and/or Abuse Intervention/Prevention: Programs designed to enhance child safety and/or intervene and prevent child abuse Drug and/or alcohol abuse and prevention for children: Programs designed to intervene and prevent drug and alcohol abuse with a target audience of children, defined. For more information, visit City of Victoria.

This grant provides $50,000 each to three nonprofit organizations in Central Texas that promote inclusion and support underrepresented communities through education, job skills, and health and wellness initiatives.

The City of Marfa in Texas offers Arts & Culture Grants, funded by the Hotel Occupancy Tax, to organizations promoting tourism and the hotel/convention industry through arts, historical restoration, and preservation projects, with priority given to those generating overnight visitors and renting local facilities for their events.

This grant provides funding for innovative projects that enhance the quality of life, tourism, and economic vitality in Baytown, targeting nonprofits, businesses, and entrepreneurs looking to make a significant community impact.

The Town of Flower Mound provides annual funding to Community Support organizations that offer activities, programs, and services to the residents of Flower Mound. Donor Name: Town of Flower Mound State: Texas Town: Flower Mound Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Program Areas Social Services Cultural Arts Application Requirements  Must be 501(c) (3) tax-exempt entity providing services to the residents of Flower Mound. Must have been in operation for at least three years prior to making application for funding. Not more than 25 percent of the organization’s total operating budget will come from the Town’s Community Support funding. “In-Kind Services” are acceptable if included in the financial statement, can be verified by an independent source that the rate or value used is the same rate or value a third party or paying customer would pay, and the service or product is provided by someone not associated with the organization. 4. May not have more than six months operating expenses in reserve. The Town recognizes that organizations may not meet this criterion for a variety of reasons, including deliberately building reserves for projects, funds in reserve already earmarked for specific purposes, or efficient administration of resources. Therefore, the Town reserves the right to allow an organization that otherwise meets the Community Support criteria but has more than six months operating expenses in reserve, to apply and be considered for funding, provided that the organization give an explanation for why they do not meet this criterion. Must submit an “Community Support Funding Application” form, which includes the information listed below and all required attachments. Information for the Application the specific amount of funding requested for the proposed fiscal year; a list of the anticipated benefits to the Town that will result from the funding; statistics on service levels to the Town (actual and as a percentage of total); a description of the request that specifically indicates the intended use for the funds; a brief organization description; status of goals listed for the organization’s most recent completed fiscal year; goals and objectives for the proposed fiscal year; explanation of increase to funding request; and other miscellaneous information. Required Attachments to the Application an audit or CPA review of the most recently completed fiscal year; organizations with a budget of less than $100,000 are not required to submit an audit or CPA review, but are required to submit financial statements with verification of Board approval (i.e. signature); a current IRS 501(c) (3) Determination Letter; form 990 submitted to the IRS for the current year; a budget for either the current fiscal year or a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year; and a list of other funds available for this program (may be shown in the budget). For more information, visit Town of Flower Mound.