CITY OF SEALY, TEXAS 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR BUSINESS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 EPIDEMIC PROGRAM:

BACKGROUND:

The City of Sealy is implementing a COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Grant, which will be reimbursed by the Sealy EDC. The grant funds are designated to provide assistance to local businesses suffering from financial impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the EDC Board’s intent to promote local businesses during this time of local disaster. The purpose of this grant is to ensure that the small businesses of Sealy stay in business and are able to preserve employees.

The COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Grant Committee will award up to $250,000.00 in grant funds to applicants until June 1, 2020, or sooner if funds are depleted. Applicants may apply for up to $10,000.00 in grant funds, however, the Committee will determine the approved amount awarded to eligible applicants. No business is guaranteed of receiving grant funds.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:

The business applying for grant funds must be physical, publicly accessible, and exist in the city limits of the City of Sealy.
The applicant must show proof of ownership of the business.
The business must be authorized to do business and is in good financial standing upon verification with the Secretary of State of Texas and the United States of America.
The business must be current in property tax and sales tax payments.
The business must consent to any financial audit and physical inspection(s).
The business must be in compliance with all ordinances of the City of Sealy.
The business/ business owner that receives COVID-19 DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT funds must agree to the CITY OF SEALY, TEXAS 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 EPIDEMIC.Noncompliance with the terms would require the recipient to repay funds received to the City of Sealy.
Recipients agree to stay in business in Sealy, and not reduce the number of employees for a minimum of 12 months.
Upon receipt of COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Grant funds the business must provide proof of use of the grant funds.
Upon receipt of COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Grant funds the business must comply with any other grant conditions as set forth by the Grant Committee.
If the business receives federal grant funds, then business must repay the difference between the federal grant and the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Grant funds received.

INELIGIBLE BUSINESSES:

National chains
Home-based businesses
Nonprofit organizations
The business and/or business owner(s) which have outstanding financial obligations to the City of Sealy are not eligible.
The business and/or business owner(s) which have an ongoing lawsuit or are in any way parties to litigation against the City of Sealy or the SEDC are not eligible.

PROCESS:

1. The COVID-19 DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT will be advertised to the public by the following:

The Sealy EDC website, www.sealyedc.com
The Sealy News – Thursday, May 7, 2020
The City of Sealy website, www.ci.sealy.tx.us
The City of Sealy Facebook page
Sealy Main Street Facebook page
The Sealy Chamber of Commerce website, www.sealychamber.com
The Sealy Chamber of Commerce Facebook page
The Sealy Chamber of Commerce mailings to all members
2. On Monday, April 27, 2020, the SEDC will post the Guidelines, COVID-19 DISASTER RECOVERY SURVEY, & COVID-19 DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT APPLICATION on the Sealyedc.com website. Access by choosing the Online Resources link. Both the survey and the application must be submitted. If a paper copy is required the applicant may call Katherine Ellis at 979-627-6127 or 979-398-1106 Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, or stop by the Sealy EDC office at 313 Main Street.

3. All completed surveys and applications are due to the SEDC by 5:00pm on Monday, May 11, 2020 for eligibility determination.

4. Applicants will be notified of eligibility status. Eligible applicants will be given a City of Sealy Vendor Registration Packet, which is required for the City of Sealy to process a grant funds check. If the Grant Committee requires supplemental supporting data to correspond with use of funds applied for, the data will be requested at this time.

5. By Monday, May 18, 2020, all eligible applicants will be considered simultaneously before final determination of grant funds to be awarded.

6. The week of May 18-22, 2020 checks will be distributed to recipients that have signed performance agreements with the SEDC.

 

On Friday, April 24,2020 City Council approved The City of Sealy’s 380 Economic Development Program for Businesses Impacted by Covid-19 Epidemic, upon the final signature of the Mayor a signed copy will be given to each applicant.

CITY OF SEALY, TEXAS
380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 EPIDEMIC
(Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 380)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

WHEREAS, Federal, State, County, and Local declarations of Disaster have been promulgated based on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) epidemic; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 epidemic has significantly impacted businesses in the City of Sealy, Texas (“City”) by requiring temporary closure of businesses or reduction of services (i.e. restaurant take out or delivery only); and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds that such impact has and will continue to be detrimental to the business community in the City; and

WHEREAS, the City has the financial resources and legal authority to establish an economic development program under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code; and

WHEREAS, City Council finds that such economic development program will promote a public purpose by aiding business who have suffered financially due to the COVID-19 epidemic by stimulating economic development and recovery, ensuring job retention, promoting job creation, generating sales tax, and protecting property values; and

WHEREAS, Sealy 4B Economic Development Corporation desires to assist the City and the business community by reimbursing the City for grants to businesses in Sealy in an amount not to exceed $250,000.00 per the terms of the program as provided for herein;

NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEALY, TEXAS ESTABLISHES THE FOLLOWING 380 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM:

I. Name: The name of the City program shall be called the “City of Sealy, Texas, COVID-19 380 Economic Development Recovery Program” (“Program”).

 

II. Public Purpose: The purpose of the “City of Sealy, Texas, COVID-19 380 Economic Development Recovery Program” is to provide grants to local (City) businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic which will promote local economic development and stimulate business and commercial activity in Sealy.

 

Negative impact includes having to temporarily close a business, reducing business hours, reducing business services, laying off employees, furloughing employees, and eliminating inventory and products. Moreover, a business that has difficulty paying rent or mortgage also suffers a negative impact.

 

III. Committee created: The following committee shall assist the City in the administration of the “City of Sealy, Texas, COVID-19 380 Economic Development Recovery Program”

Wyn McCready (Chairperson)

Russ Rainwater

Robert Worley

Kimbra Hill

Janice Whitehead

IV. Committee duties: “City of Sealy, Texas, COVID-19 380 Economic Development Recovery Program” committee shall have the following duties:

a. Develop grant application(s); and

b. Advertise grant program; and

c. Set deadline for grant application submission; and

d. Review grant applications; and

e. Determine funding; and

f. Ensure business compliance with grant terms; and

g. Take all other reasonable action to administer grant program.

The maximum amount of funds that a business may receive is $10,000.00. The maximum amount of funds to be disbursed under this program is $250,000.00, unless otherwise amended by City Council.

V. Grant recipients: To qualify to potentially receive a grant recipient shall:

a. be located in the corporate limits of the City of Sealy; and

b. employ fewer than 25 employees; and

c. have been operating in the City of Sealy for at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of application; and

d. be in compliance with all ordinances of the City of Sealy; and

e. not be indebted to the City of Sealy; and

f. be current on property tax payments and sales tax remittance; and

g. be authorized to do business and is in good standing in the State of Texas and shall remain in good standing in the State of Texas and the United States of America; and

h. consent to any financial audit or physical inspection(s); and

i. provide proof of use of grant funds; and

j. remain in business in Sealy for at least twelve (12) months after the date of receiving grant funds; and

k. be a business that is physically located in the City that is open to the public and is not a home-based business, national chain, or non-profit; and

l. comply with any other grant conditions as set forth by the Committee.

Grant recipients shall agree (in the application or otherwise) that failure to abide by all these Program terms, the grant application, or any rules promulgated by the Committee, shall be a breach of this “City of Sealy, Texas, COVID-19 380 Economic Development Recovery Program” and shall require the repayment and recapture of all grant funds within thirty (30) days of demand by the City or the Committee.

No business is guaranteed of receiving grant funds.

If a business receives federal funds, then business must repay the difference between the federal grant and this grant.

VI. City reimbursement: The City authorizes reimbursement for any and all Program expenditures from any lawful source. The City anticipates that the Sealy 4B Economic Development Corporation will reimburse the City for all costs of this Program after compliance with all state law funding procedures.

 

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED THIS 24TH DAY OF APRIL 2020, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEALY, TEXAS.

 

___________________________

Janice Whitehead, Mayor

 

 

ATTEST:

 

____________________________

Brooke Knoll, City Secretary