Grant & Loan Programs

Façade Revolving Loan Fund

• Typical borrowers are:
  • Small businesses
  • Small businesses;
  • Microenterprises;
  • Minority and women-owned businesses;
• Loan amounts up to $50,000
• Loans must be used to restore or rehabilitate building facades
• Loan recipients must have viable business plan for property
• Terms available up to 10 years

For more information, please contact Lisa Thompson, Economic Development Administrator at (903) 798-1743.

EPA Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund

• Loans available for environmental cleanup (example: lead-based paint, asbestos, petroleum products)
• Loan amounts determined by the project costs
• Property must meet definition of Brownfield
• Environmental assessments must be completed
• Other requirements or conditions may apply.

For more information, please contact Daphnea Ryan, Grants Administration Manager, at (903) 798-3934. 

Texarkana RLF Programs Application (PDF) (One application can be used for both the Façade Grants/Loans and EPA Brownfield Loans) 

Small Business Emergency Microlending Program 

The Small Business Emergency Microloan Program was created through a grant from the Texarkana Area Community Foundation. Its purpose is to help small business owners continue operations despite financial setbacks in the form of damage, incidentals, and unforeseen expenses. These unforeseen expenses may not seem like much to many, but to a business owner already struggling to keep their doors open, these unforeseen expenses can be the final straw that causes their business to shutter. We want to provide microloans to the business owners, and give them a low-interest option when traditional lending might not work.

Loans can be issued for up to $500, and will be paid back within 12 months of the loan issuance at a rate of the10-year treasury rate + 1%. Businesses qualify as long as annual revenue does not exceed $1 million and there are no more than 25 employees.

Allowable expenses will include materials, contractor fees, working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, and miscellaneous expenses associated with keeping the doors of a business open. There will be an immediate need proven by the applicant, and tangible expenses shown on a bid/quote/invoice/etc.

Please note: There is some flexibility in this program, if the need exceeds the program specifications as written. Please get in touch with us to discuss your situation and how we might help.

For more information, please contact Lisa Thompson, Economic Development Administrator at (903) 798-1743.

Small Business Emergency Microlending Program Application 

Other requirements that apply to programs:

Job Creation/Retention: The programs available are federally funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and as a result a HUD national objective must be met that will provide a benefit to low to moderate-income persons along with other federal requirements. Each business that participates with these programs must meet a job creation or retention requirement benefiting a low to moderate-income person.

Davis-Bacon Act: All construction projects that exceed $2,000 and funded in whole or part with federal funds must also comply with the Davis Bacon Act. This act mandates minimum hourly payments to all employees employed on a construction project.

Environmental Review: All projects are subject to an environmental review process that must take place prior to beginning the project. An environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards. This process can take a week or up to several months depending on the level of review required.

Competitive Bidding:  The City requires competitive bidding procedures to be followed according to Local Government Code Chapter 252.0215 regarding Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB’s). HUB’s will be afforded equal opportunities to submit proposals and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, or national origin in consideration of an award.

A HUB is defined as a small business concern which is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, or in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51% of the stock of which is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.  Socially and economically disadvantaged include Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian Americans.

Committee Review: There is a checklist of required documents and program forms that must accompany the completed application for all programs for review by the loan or grant committee. All requests must be approved and a grant agreement or loan documents must be signed by the applicant before the project can begin.

The City reserves the right to deny a grant or loan request by a small business that is not deemed feasible or does not meet a need or desire of the respective community.

Additional State & Federal Business Resources 

Small Business Administration Northeast Texas/ Texarkana Small Business Development Center

HUD Exchange Training Curriculums Section 3 https://www.hudexchange.info/trainings/section-3/

Small contractors’ initiative https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/small-contractors-initiative/

Small Business Administration HUBZone Program https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzone-program

HUBZone Map – https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=34.473327,-93.965242&zoom=5

**For the materials from the Regional Economic Opportunities Outreach and Awareness Event that was held July 30-31, 2019 at the Texarkana, Texas Convention Center please visit our Community Development Block Grant Page.