Bexar County

Restaurant and Bar Recovery Grant Program

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Update 2/9/2021

Award notifications and funding for recipients will be issued the week of February 15th -19th.

Update 12/18/2020

Additional Funding has become available for the beginning of 2021. The Commissioner’s Court has approved an additional $1.4 million in supporting bars and restaurants from the County’s general fund.  

LiftFund is finalizing all 2020 applications from the 1st Restaurant and Bar Recovery Grant Program and will reopen this program December 22, 2020.

The Bexar County Restaurant and Bar Recovery Grant Program will have a priority by business type.

  • Tier one is bars closed due to Bexar County Executive Order NW-18, COVID-19 ordinance. This includes businesses with a TABC permit, but are not defined as a restaurant in paragraph NO. 6 of GA-32; 
  • Tier two is restaurants affected by the decline of patrons due to COVID19.

The program is designed to help locally owned restaurants and bars within Bexar County, Texas.

The application for this fund will be open from December 22, 2020 to January 12, 2020.

These resources will be offered to businesses at or below $5 million dollars in annual revenue with maximum full time equivalent employees at or below 60 employees during the first quarter.

If you applied for the Bexar County Restaurant and Bar Recovery Program in November 2020, meet the criteria of the program, and were not selected, you may request for your file to be transferred to this program.

Business Qualifications:

The fund is not a first come first serve fund. All applications will be reviewed based on stated and verified business information and business operations. A completed application includes all required documentation to be considered. The following are the business qualifications:

  • Business is designated within the food and beverage industry;
  • Business must be commercially located;
  • Annual revenue at or below $5 million from all business activities per tax entity;
  • 60 full time equivalent employees or less;
  • Local franchisor may apply with only one franchise location;
  • Limited to businesses that are located and will remain in Bexar County;
  • Demonstrates a loss of 15% or more or closure after March 1, 2020
  • Sexually oriented businesses, Dance Halls, Catering, Event Planning, Box Meal Services are not eligible;
  • State franchise tax must be current or in agreed payment plan;
  • A business can only use a single tax entity for the application
  • Business must be established as of January 2020

Grant Document Verification:

  • Business entity documents;
  • Certificate of Occupancy; 
  • Business operating bank statements to prove losses; 
  • Business P&L (optional); 
  • Employment Documentation with IRS 941 for at least one quarter; 
  • Closing of Non-Essential Business Documentation (formal notice or bank statements/P&L demonstrating no revenue) and/or;
  • 2019 business tax return to verify business revenue (or 2018 if extension filed);
  • Closed business must provide receipts validating grant funds are spent on business operation expenses (salaries, rent, utilities, PPE, etc.)

All documents must be provided in order for the application to be considered complete. Any applications submitted without documents will NOT be considered. Applicants have the ability to upload the documents securely and safely through the online application.

Previous Applicants:

Applicants can’t have received other COVID19 related small business grants from other cities in Bexar County or the previous grants and loans from Bexar County.

Grant Amounts:

Up to $25,000

Eligible Expenditures:

Businesses may apply for the following expenses associated with business operations: payroll, lease/mortgage, supplies, inventory, utility, etc.

How to apply:

The application period will open from December 22, 2020 9:00 a.m. CST to January 12, 2021 at 5 p.m. CST. 

Timeline:

  • December 22, 2020 – Applications Open
  • January 12, 2020 – Applications Closes
  • January 12 to January 25  –  Applications reviewed and lottery
  • Week of January 27 – February 1  – 100% of grants awarded and distributed
  • Dates may change should additional funds become available.

Grant Follow Up:

All businesses receiving assistance will be required to complete a follow-up survey a later after the grant is awarded. Grant recipients must keep detailed records on reopening dates, receipts for expenditure of grant funds, and staff and payroll records.

Questions: