Accelerate Recovery
Post-Construction Grant

The City of San Antonio
Accelerate Recovery Construction Grant

The City of San Antonio Accelerate Recovery Construction grant will provide financial support in the form of grants to micro and small business owners whose businesses are located in eligible construction zones. The program, funded by the City of San Antonio and administered by LiftFund, has dedicated $120,000 in funding to support for-profit small businesses with grants of $5,000.

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Application period Thursday, May 1st 2025 9am - Friday, May 30th 2025 4:59pm
Below you will find more details about this program, including eligibility, documents required, and timeline.

Grant Awards

The grants will be in the amount of $5,000 to eligible small businesses. Applicants with multiple businesses in eligible construction zones are eligible to receive more than one grant award if the applicant can provide separate financial statements for each business and each business meets all of the eligibility criteria.

Eligible expenses: 

  • Materials and/or service of exterior or interior painting
  • Service of exterior power washing/sand blasting 
  • Purchase of outdoor furniture or outdoor cooling/heating systems (excludes installation service)
  • Purchase of interior tables and/or chairs (excludes installation service)
  • Materials and/or service of landscape (planting of greenery, xeriscape landscaping)
  • Materials and/or service of exterior or interior installation/upgrade to lighting
  • Installation of energy/water efficient appliances (light fixtures, toilets, sinks, kitchen equipment) (excludes purchase of appliances)
  • Materials and/or service of repair/installation of stucco, stone, or masonry on exterior of building 
  • Materials and/or service of repair/upgrade of windows, window framing, doors (no installation of burglar bars)
  • Repair and/or installation of signage. 
  • Materials and/or service of interior floor cleaning or replacement.  
  • Grant awards are limited to one per business at each physical address within the City of San Antonio. Grant applicants with multiple businesses in eligible construction zones are eligible to receive more than one grant award if the applicant can financially differentiate between the businesses (e.g., provide separate financial statements for each business) and each business meets all of the eligibility criteria.

Program dates and guidelines are subject to change.

To be eligible for this program, businesses must:

  • Have a minimum of $10,000 gross sales in 2024
  • Applicant has owned the business and has a formation date on or before 1/1/2024
  • Be a retail or service business that requires customer foot traffic for operations
  • Meet the Small Business Administration Size standard for small business based on your 6-digit NAICS code
  • Be currently in operation and not have filed for bankruptcy through duration of the application process
  • Be located within an eligible construction zone and remain open for one year from date of grant award. 
  • Not be in the following categories: non-profits, gambling/gaming businesses; franchisors; sexually oriented businesses; payday & auto loan providers; liquor stores and businesses in which a City employee or officer has a financial interest, as defined in Sec. 2-53 of the City’s Ethics Code
  • Applicant must be majority owner of the business, or equal share owner with a partner
  • If applicable, façade plans must be approved by the City of San Antonio Development Services and/or Office of Historic Preservation Department.
  • If applicable, applicants are required to secure any necessary permit(s) from the City of San Antonio before work may commence.
  • Business formation document with Bexar County or TX Secretary of State.
  • 2024 filed Business tax return to determine net revenue and prove losses
  • Driver’s license or government-issued photo identification
  • Most recent business utility bill or lease agreement
  • 5 clear photos of area to be improved
  • Notarized letter of acknowledgement from property owner authorizing improvements, if business location is leased
  • Detailed description of intended use of funds totaling at least $5,000, including quotes from contractors or equipment retailers
  • Most recent business bank statement
  • If a business location is leased, must provide a notarized acknowledgment letter from the owner authorizing modifications to the exterior or interior of the building.

Application period: May 1 9am – May 30, 2025 4:59pm

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 CDT on Friday May 30, 2025.

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

Application review: May 5 – August 8, 2025

The grants team will reach out to applicants by phone or email if additional documents or clarification is needed. If additional documents are requested, applicants will have 5 business days to submit.

Award notifications: June 11 – August 15, 2025

All applicants, even if ineligible or not selected for funding, will be notified by September 30.

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

Grant disbursements: June 18 – August 22, 2025

Approved applicants are required to complete a virtual verification and to submit a voided check prior to funding disbursement.

All recipients will be required to complete follow-up surveys in March 2026, March 2027 and March 2028.

INFO SESSION WEBINAR

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as long as your business is registered with a DBA and you can demonstrate that customers physically visit your business location and you meet all other eligibility criteria.

No, your business must be physically located in the city and in a qualified construction zone.

Yes, as long as you have separate financials for the businesses. 

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.

This grant application is free to submit and the LiftFund grant team can answer questions. Do not pay a third party for application assistance. Third parties are not vetted by LiftFund or the City of San Antonio for this program.

No. However, if funds are not used for intended purposes, City may request funds to be returned.

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.

Yes.

Yes. LiftFund will issue a 1099 in January 2026.

Questions?

Call 800-923-9551

Email [email protected]