SMALL BUSINESS COVID GRANTS

The City of El Paso Small Business COVID Grants Program will provide financial support in the form of $10,000 grants to small business owners and nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic. The program, funded by the City of El Paso and administered by LiftFund, has dedicated $2,400,000 Million in funding to support local small businesses and nonprofits with grants.
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All applicants, regardless of the outcome of the grant application, may receive additional guidance and resources from one of the six community partners shown on the Partners page

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROGRAM!
We are currently reviewing submitted applications. The notification process will begin June 22. All applicants will be notified by July 15. For more details about the program timeline, please refer to the Program Timeline section below.
Please reference the “Additional Resources” section of this website for information about alternate sources of funding that may be available.

Grant Awards

Eligible small businesses and non-profits may receive $10,000. The funds must be used for business-related expenses, including payroll, working capital, business rent, inventory, supplies, equipment, and other operating costs.

THE GRANT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID

REDUCTION IN GROSS SALES 2019-2021
Maximum Grant Amount
20% - 29.9%
$15,000
30 - 39.9%
$25,000
40+ %
$35,000

The following limitations apply:

  • Applicants are eligible to receive only one grant award
  • Only one grant may be awarded per business or organization with more than one location
  • Limited to one grant per physical address within the City of El Paso
  • 2020 gross sales between $10,000 and $1 million. Gross sales are based on Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S or 1065.
  • Experienced a loss in gross sales or net profit/loss between 2019 and 2020 or between 2019 and 2021. Gross sales are based on Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S or 1065. Net profit/loss is based on Line 29 of Schedule C, Line 21 of 1120-S, Line 30 of 1120, or Line 22 of 1065.
  • Operating prior to January 1, 2020. “Operational” is defined as a positive amount of gross sales on the 2019 filed tax return (Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S or 1065). If a business began in 2019 and was not operating the full year, 2019 gross sales and net profit/loss will be compared to a pro-rated amount of gross sales and net profit/loss in 2020 and 2021 to determine negative impact.
  • Currently in operation and in good standing with the Texas Comptroller’s office, if applicable.
  • Not be in the following categories: gambling/gaming businesses; franchisors; sexually oriented businesses; payday lenders; real estate investment. Prohibited NAICS (business activity) codes can be found here.
  • Applicant must be authorized representative of business
  • Located within the City of El Paso. Click here to check if your business address is within the city.
  • Current Driver’s license or government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of business registration with El Paso County or TX Secretary of State
  • Business utility bill (water, gas, electric). Home based businesses may provide a home utility bill. 
  • 2019, 2020, 2021 business tax return. Acceptable return formats are Schedule Cs, 1120, 1120S, 1065, 990 and 990EZ. Applicants without a filed business tax return for 2019 and 2020 are not eligible.
  • Most recent business bank statement
  • DD 214 proof of military discharge (veterans only)
  • 501 c(3) certification (non-profits only)
  • List of board of directors (non-profits only)

The application will be open for submission until May 31, or until funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications will be reviewed in 2 groups.

  1. Applicants who have not received any prior COVID relief funding will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis and funded first.
  2. Applicants who have received prior relief funding may apply at any time during the application period. However, they will not be reviewed or funded until the application period has closed on May 31, if available funding remains after all qualified applicants with no prior assistance have been approved and funded.

Application Period: March 13 @ 9 am MT – May 31, 2023 @ 5 pm MT

Applicants will be able to save their progress during the application period. Applications must be completed and submitted along with all the documentation required for verification before 4:59:59 PM MT on Wednesday May 31, 2023.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email when they submit the application.

Application review: April 3 – June 9, 2023

The grants team will reach out to applicants by phone or email if additional documents or clarification is needed.

Award notifications: June 22 – August 15, 2023

Applicants with no prior funding will be notified first, followed by applicants who have received prior funding (permitted available funds remain). All applicants, even if ineligible or not selected for funding, will be notified by August 15, 2023.

Selected recipients will be notified of approval and accept the grant via an emailed Docusign form.

Grant disbursements: August 15 – 31, 2023

Applicants with no prior funding will be funded first, followed by applicants who have received prior funding (permitted available funds remain).

All recipients will be required to complete 3 items: A survey on the state of your business must be completed prior to receiving the Docusign awardee agreement.  A Docusign awardee agreement must be completed prior to receiving funds.  A follow-up survey in January 2024 on the status of your business. 

Local resources for El Paso small businesses.

The City of El Paso also offers low interest small business loans. For more information, call LiftFund at 888-215-2373

Grants

Fundera Grant List

NASE

Fedex 

Women Founders Network (Women-owned businesses)

Amber Grants (For women only)

National Black MBA Association (Black owned businesses) 

GrantWatch (Tracks grants for veterans) 

Halstead Grant (Female entrepreneurs in jewelry industry) 

IdeaCafe Grant (Preference for women) 

EBay Up and Running (Business owners who sell on Ebay)

Barstool Grants

Comcast Rise

Visa MENA She’s Next Grant Program (Female, Middle Eastern, North African business owners) 

Tandy Leather Together Foundation (Businesses in the leather industry who are Tandy Leather customers)

INFO SESSION WEBINAR

GET HELP WITH THE APPLICATION

Contact LiftFund at 800-923-9551 or [email protected] for questions.

Contact Project Vida for in-person application assistance. Please schedule an appointment before going to the office.
915-465-1191
3607 Rivera Ave.
El Paso, TX 79905

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as long as your business is registered with a DBA.

No, your business must be physically located in the city.

No, you may only submit one application for one business. 

You are welcome to get assistance in completing the application from a third party, however, the business owner should submit their own application and the contact info listed should be for the owner.

Our community partner, Project Vida, has been vetted and trained to assist business owners to submit the application free of charge. Do not pay a third party for application assistance. 

If you reported income from your current business on your 2019 schedule C, you may file a DBA at this time and be considered. 

No.  

You will be asked to submit a current business utility bill as part of the application. 

You can submit a copy of your business lease agreement.

You can contact the LiftFund Grants Team at 800-923-9551. For in-person application assistance, please contact Project Vida at 915-465-1191

Yes, you are eligible for consideration. However, applicants who have received prior CARES funding will not be considered until all applicants with no previous CARES assistance have been considered.

Yes, as long as gross (or net profit/loss) in either 2020 or 2021 are lower than 2019, you meet the negative impact eligibility requirement. The same applies if 2021 gross sales or net profit/loss were lower than 2019 but 2020 was higher.

GET HELP WITH THE APPLICATION

Call 800-923-9551     Email [email protected]

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