CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Port of Corpus Christi and the City of Corpus Christi are teaming up to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. If your business qualifies, it can soon apply for the Small Business Regional Pandemic Grant Program.
Councilwoman Paulette Guarjardo spearheaded the effort saying small businesses are the core of the community. Together, the city and the port are putting $750,000 into the program.
"The city's $500,000 will go to eligible businesses as a $500 credit to their utility account," Guajardo said. "The port's $250,000 will be a working capital grant to eligible small businesses."
To qualify, businesses have to be have been within the city limits for the last 12 months, have up to 20 employees and have less than a million dollars in sales a year. The business must also show at least a 25-percent loss.
If you own a business outside of city limits in San Patricio County or Nueces County, you can still apply for the port's working capital grant.
Guajardo said they hope to help a thousand businesses, but it's a first come first served basis. The United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce will pull from a lottery. Guajardo said the time and date for that lottery will soon be announced.
For the latest updates on coronavirus in the Coastal Bend, click here.
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