SMALL BUSINESS OUTDOOR SPACES

Façade renovation:

• Design and engineering, materials and labor for façade renovation:
  • upgrades to exterior lighting or painting 
  • repair of windows or window framing
  • improvements to stucco, stone or masonry

Patio Improvements:

• Design and engineering, materials and labor for patio improvements:
  • canopy installation or repair
  • umbrellas, fans, other cooling systems
  • outdoor furniture
  • decorative fencing (no chain-link)

Landscaping renovations:

• Design and engineering, materials and labor for landscaping renovations:
  • decorative fencing (no chain link)
  • in-ground vegetation or planters around exterior of property

Ineligible improvements

• New construction
• Parking lots or spaces
• Burglar bars
• Sidewalk installation or repair

There are two sets of eligibility criteria. The first will be verified by LiftFund; the second by the City of Laredo. 

Primary Eligibility Criteria

• Be located within the City of Laredo AND be located within a Difficult Development Area (view 2024 boundaries), Qualified Census Tract (view 2024 boundaries), or Central Business District.
• Meet SBA size standard for small business. 
• Experienced negative impact on operations due to the pandemic. Negative impact is defined as a decrease in gross sales between 2019 and one other year: 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023. Gross sales are determined based on Line 1 of Schedule C or Line 1a of 1120, 1120S or 1065
• Be in good standing with Texas Comptroller’s office, if applicable.
• Be an independently owned small business (no franchisors) that is registered with Webb County or the Secretary of State.
• Business was operational on or before 1/1/2023. 

Secondary Eligibility Criteria

• Be in good standing and registered with the City of Laredo Tax Office, as well as current with local taxes and fees. 
• Must have no current unpaid code enforcement liens or violations of any local, state, federal laws. 
• Must be current on all taxes including payroll, sales, unemployment, property, State, and Federal. 
• If applicable, façade plans must be approved by the City of Laredo Historical District/Landmark Board. 
• Applicant meets all codes and ordinances of the City of Laredo. 
• Applicant has secured any necessary permit(s) from the City of Laredo before work begins. 

Ineligible businesses: Franchisors, home based businesses, gambling/gaming businesses, sexually oriented businesses, payday and auto loan providers, tobacco, CBD or vape stores, government owned and/or occupied buildings. See list of ineligible NAICS codes here.

• Current valid driver’s license or government-issued photo ID. 
• Business formation documents: Assumed Name Certificate/DBA filed with Webb County or articles of formation/incorporation filed with the Texas Secretary of State. 
• Copy of most recent business utility bill (water, gas, electric). 
• Most recent business bank statement. (Personal bank statements will be accepted if business activity is clearly identifiable) 
• Tax returns from 2019 and one other year (2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023) to show decrease in gross sales. 
• Quote from a contractor that is registered as a business in the city of Laredo to prove estimate of total project costs. Proposals should include design layouts that show dimensions, proposed colors, and any other design concepts. 
• At least five (5) photos of the current state of the building BEFORE any improvements. 
• Business owners renting their commercial space must provide a notarized Letter of Approval for improvement from the property owner.

Applications received between November 15 and December 15 will be reviewed first. Applications will continue to be considered after December 15th if available funding remains after all eligible applications received in November have been awarded. 

In the event of limited remaining funds, the application with the earliest submission time will be given priority. 

1. Complete, submitted applications will be reviewed by LiftFund for the Primary Eligibility Criteria. 
2. If those are met, City of Laredo will review the application for Secondary Eligibility Criteria. 
3. If requirements are met, City will schedule a consultation with the applicant to review permitting/licensing requirements for intended project. 
4. Once all Secondary Eligibility Requirements are met, City will notify LiftFund. LiftFund will issue an award agreement via Docusign. 
5. Upon completion of the Docusign, application must complete a brief virtual verification call with LiftFund and submit a voided check for the account into which funds will be deposited. 
6. Within 7-10 days of completion of Docusign, virtual verification and voided check, grant funds will be deposited. 
7. Recipient has 120 days to complete project. 
8. Upon completion of the project, applicant must notify City and City will complete an inspection of the work. 
9. Within 60 days of completion of the project, applicant must submit a Final Report to City, including receipts for all project expenditures and project contractor’s certified payrolls. ALL Final reports must be submitted no later than September 30, 2025. Failure to submit the final report may result in disqualification from future grant programs or mandated repayment of funds. Grant repayment may also be required if improvements completed deviate from those described in the application.