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Southlake Business Relief Grant Program
About the Grant Program
In response to the economic impacts of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the local business community, the Southlake City Council has authorized a stimulus program to assist businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. The Southlake Business Relief Grant Program is a local economic development program aimed at reducing the economic strain on local businesses located within Southlake. The program's $1 million is funded through the Economic Development Investment Fund. Local businesses that apply for this grant may be awarded up to $10,000, based on meeting eligibility requirements and availability of program funds.
View the full Southlake Business Relief Grant Program Resolution 20-051.
The grant program will be accepting applications from Thursday, December 3, 2020 to Friday, January 15, 2021. Notifications to all businesses that apply will be sent beginning in late January with grant disbursements to occur in February.
UPDATE (1/15/2021):
The City will be extending the application period to Friday, January 29, 2021. In addition to this extension we will also be accepting applications from privately owned franchises and businesses that opened no later than July 1, 2019.
Click on the subject tabs below for grant eligibility details.
Eligible Businesses
- Business Types:
- Corporation
- Individual
- Sole proprietorship
- Single-member limited liability company (LLC)
- LLC treated as a partnership
- LLC – C corporation
- LLC – S corporation
- Partnership
- Independently owned franchises, including national/regional chains (Updated as of 1/15/2021)
- 50 or fewer employees.
- Businesses physically located within the City of Southlake, with a Southlake mailing address.
- Registered to do business in the State of Texas.
- Business must have been in operation since July 1, 2019. (Updated as of 1/15/2021)
- Eligible businesses must be able to demonstrate that the business was profitable prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and that they have experienced a loss of income due to COVID-19.
- Business must affirmatively declare that they were not in arrears on rent prior to February 29, 2020, and they must provide their landlord’s contact information.
- Business must be in good standing with the City of Southlake, Tarrant County and other taxing entities. If a business has outstanding payments due to the City, it may however, first apply grant funds to the amount owed first, with any remaining distributed to the business.
- A business owner applying for grant must own 51% or more of the business.
- Businesses that received assistance from SBA, CARES Act, PPP or other grant programs are still eligible.
Individual grants will be awarded to Southlake businesses in an amount not to exceed $10,000 based on a tiered approach consisting of the following:
- Tier 1 - Business operations completely closed and were deemed as a non-essential businesses per local/county/state executive orders during COVID-19 can receive up to 100% of eligible grant. (Examples include but are not limited to Nail Salons, Fitness Studios, Hair Salons)
- Tier 2 - Business operations partially closed and were deemed as an essential business per local/county/state executive orders during COVID-19 can receive up to 75% of eligible grant. (Examples include but are not limited to restaurants, caterers and grocers)
- Tier 3 - Business operations that closed and were deemed as a non-essential businesses per local/county/state executive orders during COVID-19 but had the capacity for their business to continue operations through telecommuting/online operation can receive up to 50% of the eligible grant.(Examples include but are not limited to retailers, accounting practices, law practices)
If available eligible business applications exceed the funds available for distribution, the City will prioritize funding grants for Tier 1 businesses first, followed by Tier 2 and Tier 3 businesses.
The City also reserves the right to divide the grant award in equal amounts to distribute to eligible businesses.
Ineligible business types
- Corporate owned National/Regional chains
- Corporate owned franchises
- Home-based businesses
- Permanently closed businesses
- Non-Profits
- Sexually/Adult-Oriented Businesses
- Professional Services deemed essential by local/state government (as specified in orders)
- Lobbying organizations and political organizations subject to Internal Revenue Code 527
- Gambling Concerns, including casinos, racing operations or other activities whose purpose involves gambling
- Concerns engaged in illegal activities under federal, state or local laws
- A business that is otherwise prohibited by federal or Texas law
- A business that is ineligible or precluded to receive federal or State of Texas funding due to federal laws (including but not limited to the CARES Act) or Texas laws
- Multi-level marketing concerns
- Governmental/taxing agencies/departments
Funds can be used to reimburse the costs of business interruption due to COVID-19 as a result of required closures, voluntary closures to promote social distancing, or decreased customer demand. Examples of these costs include:
- Working capital.
- Machinery and equipment.
- Payroll expenses.
- Heath care benefits.
- Contract labor.
- Supplier payments.
- Rent, lease or mortgage payment for business real property used for business purposes. (Ex. A storefront or warehouse. Does not include personal residence.)
- Rent, lease or purchase payment for business property (Ex. delivery vehicle, food truck, kitchen equipment, technology, payment, and communications systems/equipment.)
- Utility payments for business properties. (Not including personal residence.)
- Cost of critical business operations. (Ex. raw materials, marketing expenses, etc.)
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitation supplies and equipment.
Grant Disclaimers
Businesses that receive grant funding will be required to document how the funds are used and provide the necessary financial information such as bank statements and other information as deemed necessary by the City of Southlake Chief Financial Officer. This documentation will need to be provided to the City no later than July 1, 2021. Separate communication to grant recipients will be provided on this.
Any businesses seeking to receive grant funds from the Southlake Business Relief Grant Program shall be required to provide identification and financial information to the City of Southlake, within the timeline established as determined by the City, for review and consideration that may include but is not limited to driver’s license, bank statements, tax returns, Form 941 and Form W-9.
The City of Southlake is committed to keeping all information provided to us for this grant application safe and secure. We are taking steps to ensure the security of all information obtained. If you have any questions on how the City will handle your business information, please contact us at (817) 748-8039.
Nothing provided in the Southlake Business Relief Grant Program or by the City of Southlake shall be construed to suggest or imply that the City of Southlake is under any obligation to provide any grant or grant fund amount to any applicant irrespective of business eligibility and meeting all established criteria.