Grants and Funding
Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program
The Austin City Council approved Resolution No. 20200423-040 on April 23, 2020 to provide $1 million for the Austin Creative Space Disaster Relief Program. This grant will provide direct support to for-profit live music venues, performance spaces, art galleries, arts-focused nonprofits and individual artists facing temporary or permanent displacement.
Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund
The Austin City Council approved Ordinance No. 20200423-067 on April 23, 2020 to designate $1.5 million for the Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund. These grants are for Austin’s most vulnerable musicians experiencing economic hardship. Eligible local musicians must be able to demonstrate income loss due to the COVID-19 global pandemic to apply for a $1,000 grant.
Business Expansion Incentive Program
The City may award an incentive for expansion projects to companies who create new jobs plus provide access to employment and community benefits. Considerations include: middle-skill jobs at above-industry standard compensation, hiring populations facing economic and socio-economic hardships that pose as a barrier to employment, and realizable community benefits beyond tax revenue.
Creative Space Assistance Program (2019)
CSAP provides direct support to qualifying creative organizations facing temporary or permanent displacement, or to those previously displaced. The program is open to arts-focused nonprofits as well as qualifying for-profit live music venues, performance spaces, and art galleries.
Cultural Arts Funding
Cultural Arts Funding provides cultural arts programs for the Austin community by contracting with arts organizations for specific services.
Film & Digital Media Production Incentives
Incentives and funding resources for filmmakers.
Heritage Grants
Heritage Grants serve to promote tourism through the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings, sites or districts. Historic preservation is a successful economic development tool that creates jobs, spurs new business, and strengthens local economies.
Loans
Austin Economic Injury Bridge Loan Program
The Austin Economic Injury Bridge Loan Program is intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major disaster hits until a business has secured recovery resources. The proposed loan program will work alongside the applicant’s request for federal assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Family Business Loan Program
The Family Business Loan Program is a public-private partnership between the City of Austin, HUD, and participating private lenders to offer low-interest loans to qualified small businesses that are expanding and creating jobs. Our mission to enable existing local businesses to expand and create jobs, revitalize communities, increase the tax base of the City of Austin, and enhance the overall quality of life for Austin residents.
Veteran Business Loan Initiative
The Veteran Business Loan is part of the Family Business Loan Program, a public-private partnership between the City of Austin Economic Development Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which offers a low-interest rate loan and low borrower equity requirements to help create or expand a business.