FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rory Dew, 210-207-0112
SAN ANTONIO (April 6, 2023) – Today, City Council approved five partnership agreements to support San Antonio small businesses. The services to be provided through these agreements, will help local small businesses increase resiliency and address issues highlighted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Local small businesses are the backbone of San Antonio and we are proud to support new programs to promote their longevity and growth,” said City Manager Erik Walsh. “These new federally funded programs will increase access to capital, support services, web presence, and other assistance for our local small businesses.”
Through targeted investments and strategic partnerships, San Antonio small businesses will have improved access to the following services:
- Business owner development and coaching for growth stage companies
- Low or no fee microlending to increase access to capital
- Reduced-cost support services including legal, human resources, and accounting
- Assistance to establish a commercial web presence
- Additional networking and professional support through a personalized outreach program
The funding and priority areas are guided by the $30.95 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Small Business Implementation Plan approved by City Council in June 2022. Partners were selected through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The total of these awards is $5.05 million.
Announced awardees include:
- Herospace Digital Consulting
- LISC San Antonio on behalf of the Business Development Organization Alliance
- Maestro Entrepreneur Center
- Prosper West San Antonio
- San Antonio for Growth on the East Side (SAGE)
These contracts follow last year’s emergency COVID-19 Impact small business grants funded by $17 million in ARPA State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Contracts take effect in April 2023 and run through November 2025.
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San Antonio is a vibrant city with a thriving economy, deep cultural heritage and communities that are compassionate, inclusive and proudly diverse. It is the seventh largest city in the United States and one of the strongest fiscally managed cities in the country, nurturing entrepreneurship, encouraging investment and funding infrastructure. The City fosters partnership and growth opportunities in aerospace, bioscience, cybersecurity, green technologies, healthcare, and information technology. San Antonio’s famed Riverwalk and Alamo are the top tourist attractions in Texas, and its historic missions are a designated World Heritage Site – the first and only in Texas. Proudly called Military City, USA®, San Antonio is home to one of the largest populations of active duty military and veterans, as well as mission-critical commands, including military medicine, cybersecurity, pilot training and basic training. For more information, visit SanAntonio.gov and follow @COSAGov on social.
