About the program:
The Still Budaful Stimulus is a local economic development program authorized under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code to help reduce the resulting economic strain on local businesses. On March 20, Buda City Council declared a local state of disaster. As a result, the pandemic caused closures and limitations on local businesses in Buda. At that same meeting, Council appointed a Small Business Task Force to research ways to assist businesses during this time of need.
On April 6, 2020 members of the Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC) approved an Agreement for Funding of the Still Budaful Stimulus Program. On April 7, 2020 the Buda City Council also committed funds to this program. The total contributions between the City of Buda and Buda EDC amount to $380,000, allowing eligible businesses to apply for the following assistance programs:
The program funded between the City of Buda and the Buda EDC provides limited financial assistance to businesses severely impacted as a result of the ‘Stay at Home, Work Safe’ Order implemented by Hays County and the City of Buda to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19. It provides $380,000 in government-funded grants for eligible small businesses that are independently owned and operated with a maximum of 50 employees. Eligible industries may include retail (storefront), food and beverage; personal care (barber shop, nail salons, spas, etc.), automobile maintenance, education training, health/wellness, art galleries and small manufacturing businesses. National chains, home-based businesses, non-profit organizations and permanent business closures are not eligible for the grant. Additionally, businesses must meet the following criteria to receive up to $5,000 in grant funding.
About the Small Business Task Force:
The Task Force consists of:
Evan Ture, Buda City Council Member
Kenneth Williams, City Manager, City of Buda
Lauren Middleton-Pratt, Assistant City Manager, City of Buda
June Ellis, Finance Director, City of Buda
Lysa Gonzalez, Director of Tourism, City of Buda
Maggie Gillespie, Main Street Program Manager, City of Buda
Jennifer Storm, Board President, Buda EDC
Traci Anderson, Executive Director, Buda EDC
J.R. Gonzales, Executive Director, Buda Area Chamber of Commerce
About the Hotel Occupancy Tax Payment Emergency Deferral + Forgiveness Program:
The program provides limited financial assistance to City of Buda hotels through the deferral and forgiveness of hotel occupancy tax payments to hotels severely impacted as a result of the ‘Stay at Home, Work Safe’ Order. The Program provides a 60-day deferral of hotel occupancy tax payments for March 20, 2020 and April 20, 2020, with an additional offering of forgiving up to $5,000 of deferred hotel occupancy tax payments. This program has an aggregate of $45,000 available for hotel occupancy tax forgiveness. Hotels must apply to be eligible. In addition, hotels must meet the following criteria:
Additional grant funds were added and loans became available in round 2.0 of the program:
2.0 Background
On May 11, 2020, the Buda EDC Board of Directors awarded additional funds not to exceed $250,000 to launch a Still Budaful Stimulus 2.0 Program. The 2.0 Program expands on the vision of the Still Budaful Stimulus Program and broadens the eligibility criteria to accommodate more Buda businesses. The 2.0 Program will be administered by the Small Business Task Force.
Results:
$850,000 in grants distributed to 120 Buda companies saving over 700 jobs
News Stories
4/7/2020: https://haysfreepress.com/2020/04/07/economic-relief-on-its-way-in-buda/
4/9/2020: https://budaedc.com/news/buda-launches-still-budaful-stimulus-program
5/13/2020: https://haysfreepress.com/2020/05/13/still-budaful-funds-still-available-for-small-business/
5/29/2020: https://www.acl-radio.com/covid-19/still-budaful-2-0-stimulus-to-launch-next-week/
8/12/2020: https://budaedc.com/news/still-budaful-small-businss-loan-program
9/27/2020: https://haysfreepress.com/2020/09/27/buda-anticipates-new-wave-of-reopening/
Videos
Program announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BBXm8XSIQA
Round 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SaqlxYhN0k
Were here for Buda businesses video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYs8wfB7D7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caMX3KXMtLo&t=124s
Final Video:
"It's been just over a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and May marks the one-year anniversary of the Still Budaful Stimulus Program. Today we are looking back with pride on how far we've come and all the ways the community came together this past year. The Still Budaful Stimulus was the formation of five Buda organizations working together to create three grants to help our local businesses. We gave away $850,000 through three rounds of stimulus checks to help over 120 businesses and 700 employees make it through to today. This is their story."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caMX3KXMtLo
EDC Board Action:
April 2, 2020 Agenda/Packet: https://budaedc.com/sites/default/files/addemdums/Agenda%20Packet%204-2-2020%20%282%29.pdf
April 2, 2020 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu53WfTsVf0
April 2 , 2020 Minutes: https://budaedc.com/sites/default/files/minutes/Minutes%204-2-2020.docx
April 6, 2020 agenda/packet: https://budaedc.com/sites/default/files/addemdums/Agenda%20Packet%204-6-2020.pdf
April 6, 2020 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUBBae9B2-s
City Council Action:
March 20, 2020 Establish Taskforce
Establish program
April 7, 2020 Minutes: https://buda-tx.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=buda-tx_709d1fa576b3bf939d760ea2abc5524b.pdf&view=1
April 7, 2020 Agenda packet (page 157 on) https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/buda-tx/ad41be84-1ba5-11ea-a240-0050569183fa-a02f6f73-e553-4ab0-ae02-e59e7e8f6d42-1585952658.pdf
2.0 funding
May 19, 2020 agenda packet: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/buda-tx/cec2115f-1ba5-11ea-a240-0050569183fa-a02f6f73-e553-4ab0-ae02-e59e7e8f6d42-1589661081.pdf
June 2, 2020 agenda packet: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/buda-tx/2cd21d5c3d1cb39ce24e67ddfe2746e90.pdf