May News & Notes

Who’s ready to make this month an amazing one for economic development? Check out the news and notes for business owners!

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

Registration for the SBA application portal is now open. Applications will open on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon ET. See How to apply for more detail.


Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Application

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program was established in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act to provide over $16.2 billion in economic relief to target industries. This SVOG portal is now open to receive applications.

Details here


Governor’s Small Business Portal

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, the Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal will provide you with the most relevant resources and contacts to help you find success. This important tool offers a customized list of useful business resources to assist you in starting or growing your business in Texas.

The portal is easy to access and use—simply answer five short questions to generate your tailored resource list. For your convenience, you may print or email the results directly from the portal.

Types of information included in the portal:

  • Federal, State and Local Resources
  • Business Advice and Growth Assistance
  • Funding Sources
  • Additional Specific Resources

See all the details here


TWU Center for Woman Entrepreneurs Workshops & Gatherings

TWU Veteran Women’s Grant

If you are a female veteran in Texas who is starting or currently owns an existing business, you may qualify for the CWE’s NEW Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant program.

Up to $250,000 in grant funds will be awarded in increments of $1,000 to $10,000 to qualified Texas women veterans. It is our first grant program aimed specifically at helping veterans and is open to women entrepreneurs throughout Texas.

Grant applications open April 14 and will be accepted through May 14!

Other workshops:

  • Expanding Your Online Footprint Locally | May 11
  • WomenRISE Networking | May 11

See descriptions and register for events here


NCTC Small Business Development Events

  • PPP Forgiveness Updates | May 4
  • Partnership Agreements: Avoiding Legal Troubles | May 5
  • Writing Effective Business Messages | May 6
  • How to Improve Outcomes by Giving Constructive Feedback | May 13
  • Tips for Being Effective and Calm | May 20
  • Meetings: How to Make Them Short and Sweet – and Effective! | May 27

See more info here