The City of San Antonio, in partnership with LiftFund, has now initiated a bold step to help the small business owners weather the storm of construction-related disruptions. Three distinct grant programs, conceived to alleviate various stages of construction impact, set out to offer financial assistance to these community staples. “The infrastructure upgrades we make today will ultimately support our city’s economic growth, improve safety and enhance our quality of life for decades,” said Brenda Hicks-Sorensen, Economic Development Department Director, in a statement released by the City of San Antonio. Hicks-Sorensen also admitted, notwithstanding the necessity for these infrastructure upgrades, businesses feel the immediate pinch, prompting city officials to take up the mantle of minimizing the adverse effects.
Starting yesterday, the Stabilization Construction Grant offers up to $35,000 for businesses set in the heart of active construction zones, such as the Zona Cultural, S. Alamo Street, and N. New Braunfels Phase 2. Concurrently, the Accelerate Recovery Construction Grant plans to infuse $5,000 into businesses residing where the dust of construction has settled, supporting improvement projects for a refreshed business face. Eligible areas for this include Bynum Phase 2, Bulverde Phase 1, N. New Braunfels Phase 1 and, the Broadway Corridor. Applications for these grants opened simultaneously on the first of May.
Following suit and looking ahead, the Mitigation Construction Grant readies for a June 2 launch. This pilot initiative eyes Marbach Road Area Streets, preempting its forthcoming construction phase with $2,000 grants. These funds are earmarked for enhancing marketing efforts, improving signage, or easing expansion into new delivery platforms to help businesses maintain a steady customer flow during the turbulent construction period ahead.
Amy Hereford, President & CEO of LiftFund, emphasized the trials and perseverance baked into the small business journey: “At LiftFund, we understand the resilience and dedication it takes to run a small business, especially when faced with challenges like construction disruptions,” Hereford told the city's official website. The collaboration between LiftFund and the City reflects a commitment to fortify the local economy by providing robust support networks to the small businesses at its core.
As part of comprehensive outreach, LiftFund has scheduled two informational sessions on April 29 and May 8 to educate businesses about the grant programs, and further details can be found on COSAConstructionGrants2025.com. Entrepreneurs looking for direct assistance can also contact LiftFund at 800-923-9551 to address their questions and begin the application process.
