Mayor Sylvester Turner announced this week that applications for the City of Houston’s Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP) will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 19th.

The program, which is funded with $15 million of the City’s allocated CARES Act 2020 funds, will provide immediate and short-term grant assistance to small businesses and chambers of commerce that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 4th and must be completed online at: www.cityofhouston-sberp.org.

The maximum amount a business or chamber can receive from the SBERP is $50,000. A business may use the funds for payroll, accounts payable, rent, mortgage, personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees, and marketing strategies, including creating an online presence and other sales alternatives.

“SBERP funds will not be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Small businesses that are in most financial need and exhibit a moderate to high likelihood of surviving the pandemic’s adverse impacts will receive the most consideration for grant funds,” Mayor Turner said. “I highly encourage you to take your time to complete your application fully and carefully before the September 4th deadline.”

To qualify for the SBERP, business owners must meet the following requirements:

Must be a business whose principal place of business is located within city limits of the City of Houston.

Must have been in business for at least one (1) year as of March 1, 2020.

· Must provide evidence of how business revenue has significantly decreased because of government restrictions or other challenges due to COVID-19.

· A business qualifies if it generated $2 million or less in gross annual revenue pre-COVID-19.

· Must be in good standing regarding City requirements (e.g. property taxes, personal property, grounds for debarment, etc).

· Must commit to completing the Recovery and Resiliency component of this program provided via HBDi.

In addition to these requirements, a weighted scoring matrix will be used to ensure the equitable distribution of grant funds. Applications will be prioritized based on several factors including geography, employee makeup, access to capital challenges, years in business, and demonstrated resiliency.