“Bexar County's decision today to create a new $20 million grant program will bring serious relief to small businesses and non-profits still suffering from the effects of the pandemic,” said LiftFund founder, Janie Barrera. “As we have from the beginning, LiftFund is ready to help businesses access the funds, knowing that each dollar will help not only the small businesses themselves, but also the jobs, families, and communities that they support.”

Over the past few months, the SAHCC and LiftFund have combined efforts to urge the county to allocate ARPA funding for direct relief to small businesses.

“The SAHCC is proud to continue our advocacy efforts with our partners at LiftFund, and grateful to our county leadership for their support of our small business community,” said SAHCC President & CEO, Marina Gonzales. “The grant program will go far in supporting our members and small business community.”

We applaud Judge Wolff and the Bexar County Commissioners for their commitment to supporting small businesses and nonprofits through these difficult times. We will continue to work with county staff to ensure the funding methodology to distribute funds prioritizes industries most in need and the application process is not overly restrictive.

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About the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1929 as the Mexican Chamber of Commerce by the Consul General of Mexico in San Antonio. It is the oldest and largest Hispanic Chamber in the country, and the first Hispanic Chamber to be accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with a 5-star distinction. It is the leading resource, advocate, and access point for Hispanic businesses, Hispanics in business, and the Hispanic market.

About LiftFund:

LiftFund is a nonprofit small business lender that transforms lives by opening doors and leveling the financial playing field in entrepreneurship. Established in 1994, LiftFund provides responsible capital and business education to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. LiftFund has supported San Antonio small business owners with over $77.8 million in small business loans since 1994. Since its inception, LiftFund has made over 25,000 loans totaling more than $428 million across its 15-state footprint, which includes: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, New York and Texas.