Still Budaful Stimulus Grant Program

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:

Still Budaful Stimulus Grant
Hotel Occupancy Tax Payment Emergency Deferral + Forgiveness Program
Buda Emergency Co-Marketing Grant

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.

Physical and publicly accessible location within the City of Buda city limits (no home-based businesses).
Experienced or projected to experience a decline in revenue and/or employment starting March 1, 2020 and ending at which time the government has allowed citizens to return to normal activity.
In good standing with the City of Buda regarding licensing and permits.
Must be registered with the Texas Comptroller’s Office as a sales tax revenue generating business for the City of Buda.
Engaged in activities that are legal under city and state law.

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:

Collects hotel occupancy tax for the City of Buda.
Experienced or projected to experience a decline in revenue between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Experienced or projected to experience a decline in employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In good standing with the City of Buda with regard to licensing and finance, including being current on sales and use tax payments.
Engaged in activities that are legal under city and state law.

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/

4/8/2020: https://communityimpact.com/austin/san-marcos-buda-kyle/coronavirus/2020/04/08/buda-oks-about-485k-to-ease-economic-strain-of-pandemic/

4/9/2020: https://budaedc.com/news/buda-launches-still-budaful-stimulus-program

5/12/2020: https://communityimpact.com/austin/san-marcos-buda-kyle/coronavirus/2020/05/12/funds-still-available-to-help-get-buda-businesses-through-coronavirus-closures/

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/

6/3/2020: https://communityimpact.com/austin/san-marcos-buda-kyle/government/2020/06/03/still-budaful-20-kicks-off-with-250k-for-buda-businesses/

8/12/2020: https://budaedc.com/news/still-budaful-small-businss-loan-program

8/14/2020: https://communityimpact.com/austin/san-marcos-buda-kyle/business/2020/08/13/buda-small-business-loan-program-opens-applications/

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