We believe in Community Building through Economic Development.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

1. Read the BIG 2.0 Program Guidelines.
2. Schedule a meeting with BCIC staff to discuss your project by emailing msuarez@bcic.us.
3. Applicants are required to have all applicable permit(s) required by the City of Brownsville for the entire project.
4. Ensure your property is located within the Central Business District (dark blue area) of the BIG Program Boundaries.
5. Since the program offers reimbursable 50/50 matching grants, applicants must have a minimum of 50% of the total project cost available. A bank statement showing the unencumbered and unrestricted funds is required with the application. It is preferred that the applicant has the available capital to complete 100% of the project.

Brownsville Small Business Recovery Fund– In response to the economic hardships experienced by small businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) and the City of Brownsville are partnering together to launch the Brownsville Small Business Recovery Fund in an effort to retain jobs and stabilize local businesses. The primary objectives are to support eligible retail, food, personal services businesses that employ low- and moderate-income persons to retain jobs for City residents. 

This program is a short-term 0% interest forgivable loan program up to $20,000 to assist businesses with up to fifty (50) employees at the time of application, or $10,000 for businesses that have up to five (5) employees (including the owner) with low to moderate income owner. The business must demonstrate a loss of gross revenue of 15% or more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to be considered for funding. 

Applications will be accepted via BCIC’s application portal. Deadline to apply is December 1, 2023 or when the max number of applications have been received; whichever comes first. Due to the anticipated number of submissions, allocated funds to the loan program may be exhausted before the date stated above. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated on eligibility and based on the number of eligible applicants and limited funding, applications may be chosen via a lottery system. 

*Recipients of Round 1 and Round 2 of the Brownsville ReOpen for Business Assistance Program are NOT eligible to apply.

PLEASE READ OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND REVIEW THE DOCUMENT CHECKLIST BEFORE APPLYING!

Brownsville Small Business Recovery Fund: En respuesta a las dificultades económicas experimentadas por las pequeñas empresas como resultado de la pandemia de COVID-19, la Corporación de Mejoramiento de la Comunidad de Brownsville (BCIC) y la Ciudad de Brownsville se han asociado para lanzar el Brownsville Small Business Recovery Fund de Brownsville con el objetivo de mantener empleos y estabilizar los negocios locales. Los principales objetivos son apoyar a las empresas elegibles de venta al por menor, alimentos y servicios personales que emplean a personas de bajos y moderados ingresos para retener empleos para los residentes de la ciudad.

Este programa es un programa de préstamos condonables a corto plazo con un interés del 0 % de hasta $20,000 para ayudar a las empresas con hasta cincuenta (50) empleados al momento de la solicitud, o $10,000 para empresas que tengan hasta cinco (5) empleados (incluido el propietario) con un ingreso bajo o moderado. La empresa debe demostrar una pérdida de ingresos brutos del 15 % o más como resultado de la pandemia de COVID-19 para ser considerada para la financiación.

Las solicitudes se aceptarán a través del portal de solicitudes de BCIC. La fecha límite para solicitar es el 1 de diciembre de 2023 o cuando se haya recibido el número máximo de solicitudes, lo que ocurra primero. Debido al número anticipado de envíos, los fondos asignados al programa de préstamos pueden agotarse antes de la fecha mencionada anteriormente. Las solicitudes se revisarán y evaluarán según la elegibilidad y, debido al número limitado de solicitantes elegibles y los fondos limitados, las solicitudes pueden ser seleccionadas mediante un sistema de lotería.

*NO CALIFICAN los negocios que ya han recibido préstamos de ReOpen for Business Assistance Program con anterioridad en cualquiera de sus rondas.

¡POR FAVOR, LEA NUESTRAS POLITICAS Y PROCEDIMIENTOS Y REVISE LA LISTA DE DOCUMENTOS ANTES DE APLICAR!: 

The Downtown Brownsville Rent Subsidy Program offers rent reimbursements to businesses that are new-to-market, expanding, or relocating to Historic Downtown Brownsville. The goal of the program is to strengthen downtown’s economic activity, diversify the existing business mix, improve downtown’s curb appeal, and increase occupancy.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include new, expanding, or existing businesses choosing to relocate to Historic Downtown Brownsville and contribute to the existing business mix. Existing downtown businesses wanting to expand their gross rentable space are also eligible.

Eligible applicants must:

1. Be located within the Central Business District of the BIG Program Boundaries. Check this map for eligibility.

2. Hire or employ a minimum of two (2) employees, not including the business owner.

3. Be a business that can obtain a Sales Tax Permit.

ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION. 

BEFORE YOU APPLY

• Read the BIG Program Guidelines.
•  Schedule a meeting with BCIC staff to discuss your project by emailing msuarez@bcic.us.
•  Applicants are required to have all permit(s) required by the City of Brownsville for the entire  project.
• Ensure your project is within the BIG Program Boundaries.
• Since the program offers reimbursable 50/50 matching grants, applicants must have a minimum of 50% of the total project cost available. A bank statement showing the unencumbered and unrestricted funds is required with the application.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

• Read the BIG Program Guidelines.
•  Schedule a meeting with BCIC staff to discuss your project by emailing msuarez@bcic.us.
•  Applicants are required to have all permit(s) required by the City of Brownsville for the entire  project.
• Ensure your project is located within the Central Business District of the BIG Program Boundaries.
• Since the program offers reimbursable 50/50 matching grants, applicants must have a minimum of 50% of the total project cost available. A bank statement showing the unencumbered and unrestricted funds is required with the application.