Travis County’s TCTX Thrive 1.0 Small Business Program was designed to offer a response to the economic crisis related to COVID-19 through reimbursement grants of up to $40,000 from the Coronavirus Relief Funds via the CARES Act and business coaching for 224 local small businesses that met eligibility requirements from June 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Since then, Travis County was able to recapitalize the Thrive Small Business grant program with $2 million to assist small businesses, that were on the waitlist for grant funding, through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) via the U.S. Treasury.

The public purpose of the program is to:

• Respond to the public health emergency and its negative economic impacts on small businesses in Travis County.
• Support small business implementation of COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics.
• Support of awardee’s business so they may remain open.
• Support job retention

• Businesses must have been on a waitlist for the Thrive 1.0 program.
• Businesses located and headquartered within Travis County and further, located in unincorporated Travis County, in any city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), or in another city or village within the county outside the City of Austin incorporated limits.
• The business address identified on legal documents is used to determine the location of the business.
• Businesses must have no outstanding tax liens or legal judgments. If on a payment plan, must be current. Exceptions may be made for businesses that have outstanding recent quarter 941s or sales tax reports to the Texas Comptroller due to financial difficulties related to COVID-19.
• Businesses must use a Social Security Number, Employer Identification Number, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
• Businesses may not have received or use alternate federal, state, or local grant funding to cover the same costs and/or uses included in this grant application.
• Businesses must have been in business since March 1, 2019.
• Businesses must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees on March 1, 2020.
• Businesses must have a net revenue of no greater than $500,000 annually.
• Businesses must demonstrate a negative economic impact or economic harm due to the Covid- 19 public health emergency examples of which include that the business:
  • Had to lay off at least one of its full time or part time employees or contractors based on 941 Employer Quarterly Tax Return reports and/or payroll reports showing reductions in employees or contractors;
  • Had a revenue decline, shown by interim financial statements, bank statements, and/or tax returns;
  • Experienced mandated closure(s) or temporary suspension of operations based on closure orders or other documentation;
  • Had customers, new account(s), and/or event(s) lost or put on hold, based on evidence of lost or delayed funds, income, or events;
  • Is located in a low-income community that was disproportionately affected by COVID-19;
  • Is located in a Qualified Census Tract;
  • Experienced challenges covering payroll or other operational expenses, as documented by:
    • tax returns and/or
    • financial statements, cash flow statements, bank statements, Point-of-Sale reports, and/or
    • past-due mortgage/rent statements, utility bills, or other invoices;
  • Did not have the capacity to weather financial hardships, as shown by denial of debt relief by business lenders, vendors, or other agencies (not including Travis County);
  • Experienced inventory delays or items not being available due to supply chain disruptions;
  • Had to make changes to or pivot business practice(s).

• Grant awards will be based on the following Net Annual Revenue tiers from the grantee’s 2019 tax returns:
  • 2019 Annual Net Revenue of less than $50,001 = $10,000 grant award
  • 2019 Annual Net Revenue of $50,001-$100,000 = $25,000 grant award
  • 2019 Annual Net Revenue of $100,001-$500,000 = $40,000 grant award
• Grant awards will be disbursed by the end of 2024.
• Grant awards must be used for mitigating negative economic impact due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as declines in revenues or impacts of periods of business closure.
• Certification that the grantee:
  • Has not received or been approved for another grant for the same revenue loss or expenses that have not been paid yet.
  • Will withdraw any other applications for any other funding and not apply for or accept any funding from any other grant or donation or insurance related to the same revenue loss or expenses.
  • Is eligible for one grant for one business location regardless of the number of locations or businesses owned.
  • Must be willing to provide any/all information necessary to participate in the program, including: providing documentation showing economic injury due to COVID-19, signing a contract, providing ACH/direct deposit information and confirming that information with the County by phone, submitting a completed W-9 form, and supplying other information as requested.
  • Will commit to keeping the business open at a minimum of 12 months from the grant award date. The grant award date is the date the grantee signs the contract.

All grantees will be required to complete the following performance requirements:

• Documented Business Continuity Plan submitted to Program Administrator, BCL of Texas.
• Monthly documentation of continued business operations submitted to the Program Administrator for one year.
• Documentation confirming receipt of coaching on business/individual and business asset building with the Program Administrator.
• Documentation confirming the status of business 12 months post grant award submitted to the Program Administrator.
• ACH or direct deposit info verified by County process.

Eligibility

What Businesses can apply?
Businesses that are on the waitlist for the Thrive 1.0 program

How can I check if I am on the waitlist?
You can contact us at 512-994-2280 or by email at thrive@bcloftexas.org.

For what year is net revenue considered for eligibility?
2019

Why are only permanent residents eligible?
This program is based on federal funding and is therefore subject to federal guidelines, which is where the residency requirement comes from.

What is the application deadline?
March 22, 2024, 11:59PM CST.

Geographic Eligibility

What if my business is in Travis County but I live in the City of Austin? What if my business is in Austin but I live in Travis County?
For the purposes of eligibility for this program, only the address where your business is officially registered is considered. It does not matter where your home address is.

What if my business is in the eligible area, but my service area is outside of Travis County? / What if my business address is in the eligible area, but I do a lot of business within the City of Austin?
For the purposes of eligibility for this program, only the address where your business is officially registered is considered Your service area is not a factor in eligibility.

I run my business out of my home, which is an eligible area, but it’s technically registered with a City of Austin address. Am I eligible?
For the purposes of eligibility for this program, only the address where your business is officially is registered is considered. It does not matter where your home address is.

Are businesses located in the extrajudicial territory of Austin eligible?
Yes, as long as your business is not registered to an address within the incorporated area of City of Austin limits.

Is a business with an address in Cedar Park, Elgin, Leander, Mustang Ridge, Pflugerville, or Round Rock eligible?
It depends. These cities are partly within Travis County and partly within other counties. If your business address is located within Travis County, you are eligible to complete the waitlist check-in.

Is a business with an address in Anderson Mill, Bee Cave, Bluff Springs, Briarcliff, Cele, Creedmoor, Del Valle, Elroy, Garfield, Hornsby Bend, Hudson Bend, Jonestown, Lago Vista, Lakeway, Littig, Lost Creek, Lund, Manchaca, Manor, McNeil, New Sweden, Onion Creek, Point Venture, Rollingwood, San Leanna, Shady Hollow, Sunset Valley, The Hills, Volente, Webberville, Wells Branch, West Lake Hills, or Windemere eligible?
Yes. These areas are all within Travis County but outside of the Austin city limits, so they are eligible.

Is a business with an address in an unincorporated part of Travis County eligible?
Yes, unincorporated areas of Travis County are eligible.

Our customer service team is here to answer your questions about the TCTX Thrive 2.0 Small Business Program. We have dedicated staff to help you in English and Spanish, and can provide help in other languages upon request.

Call us: 512-994-2280

Email us: thrive@bcloftexas.org