Fort Bend County approving additional CARES Act grants for small businesses

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 12/21/20

Fort Bend County Commissioners approved a second round of grant funding for small businesses through CARES Act funds allocated to the county at the governing body’s Dec. 8 meeting. The …

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Fort Bend County approving additional CARES Act grants for small businesses

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Fort Bend County Commissioners approved a second round of grant funding for small businesses through CARES Act funds allocated to the county at the governing body’s Dec. 8 meeting. The forgivable grants are available to Fort Bend businesses in amounts up to $25,000 depending on the company’s annual sales reported for 2019.

“The case management team is aggressively pursuing the grantees for submission of their documentation because we have right at 1,700 that are eligible for a second grant,” County Auditor Ed Sturdivant said during the meeting.

Sturdivant said at the time the Auditor’s Office had only been able to help a little less than 10% of the original grantees receive a second grant. Grant funding is available for expenses incurred through the end of December, he said.

Initial funding was available in the amount of more than $47 million, though it was unclear how much funding remained available.

According to county documents, funding from the grants may be used to pay for personal protective equipment, reopening supplies, equipment and renovations, inventory, utilities, remote working expenses, leases, payroll to bring employees back to work and mortgage assistance.

Applicants’ principal place of business must be in Fort Bend County and reported annual 2019 revenue must be at least $25,000 and no more than $5 million to be eligible. Additional requirements include having between one and 50 full time employees, the business must be for profit and in good standing with the state of Texas and the business must have been substantially impacted by COVID-19 and operational as of Feb. 15, 2020.

There is no credit score requirement, though a FICO score will be obtained in order to verify that the applicant is in good standing according to the county.

“We will work side by side to keep people employed, distribute necessary goods and services, ensure best practices for social distancing and sanitary workspaces, and direct the federal and state funding streams as quickly as possible,” Fort Bend County Judge KP George said in a letter to businesses when the first round of grants was set up over the summer.

Businesses wishing to apply for the grants can apply through the county’s online portal at www.fortbendcounty.com/grants/.

Assistance in applying for the grants is available through the local chambers of commerce that are active in Fort Bend County by contacting one of the individuals listed below via email:

Grants, Fort Bend County, CARES Act