Agenda No. 13.
CITY COUNCIL MEMORANDUM
| City Council Meeting: | January 11, 2022 |
| Department: | Executive Team |
| Subject: | Resolution No. 22-R-07 - Consideration and/or action approving a Resolution by the City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas authorizing the allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds for the Schertz Small Business Grant Program. (M. Browne) |
BACKGROUND
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) authorized public grants to businesses to help recover losses during the COVID Pandemic. The act requires businesses to demonstrate that they suffered loss during the COVID pandemic and specifies that the losses incurred were from March 2021 forward.
When considering the allocation of ARPA funds, the City of Schertz approved up to $1M in grants to Schertz businesses as part of its total allocation. The City also formed a 5-person committee consisting of two council members, the mayor, The Chamber President, and the Economic Development Director. The committee was tasked with reviewing applications and to determine the grant amounts awarded based on submitted documentation.
Accordingly, the City established an application form (example in your packet) and a process to apply for the funds. The application window opened on October 1, 2021 and closed on December 1, 2021. A total of 56 applications were received and considered by the committee.
At this meeting, the committee is recommending the Council consider 22 applications for approval and award of $302,500. Four applications did not meet the criteria because the business was outside the city limits and will not be awarded funds.
The remaining 30 applications require further review and documentation provided before a decision on funding award can be made. The committee anticipates bringing these final 30 back to Council for consideration at the February 8 meeting.
A list of all the applications and amounts suggested for award is included in Council's packet.
When considering the allocation of ARPA funds, the City of Schertz approved up to $1M in grants to Schertz businesses as part of its total allocation. The City also formed a 5-person committee consisting of two council members, the mayor, The Chamber President, and the Economic Development Director. The committee was tasked with reviewing applications and to determine the grant amounts awarded based on submitted documentation.
Accordingly, the City established an application form (example in your packet) and a process to apply for the funds. The application window opened on October 1, 2021 and closed on December 1, 2021. A total of 56 applications were received and considered by the committee.
At this meeting, the committee is recommending the Council consider 22 applications for approval and award of $302,500. Four applications did not meet the criteria because the business was outside the city limits and will not be awarded funds.
The remaining 30 applications require further review and documentation provided before a decision on funding award can be made. The committee anticipates bringing these final 30 back to Council for consideration at the February 8 meeting.
A list of all the applications and amounts suggested for award is included in Council's packet.
GOAL
The goal was to help Schertz businesses recover from the COVID crisis and emerge stronger and better prepared for the future.
COMMUNITY BENEFIT
The benefit to the community is that businesses would be assisted in their efforts to recover losses during the pandemic and remain as viable businesses for the future in Schertz.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve the award of grants to businesses in Schertz as determined by the committee.
FISCAL IMPACT
The awarded funds do not come out of Schertz’s tax revenue but come out of the allocation of funds from the ARPA total for the City of Schertz.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approves Resolution 22-R-07 and award $302,500 to the 22 Schertz businesses.