Facebook-square
Twitter
Instagram
Newsletter Signup
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Search in posts
Search in pages
Additional grant and loan funding is available.Click Here for application information

Financial Assistance

Small Business Grants

On January 5, 2021, the County of El Paso will make $10 million available to aid small businesses located in El Paso County which have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 through its Financial Assistance for Safety, Technology and Economic Resilience (FASTER) program. This assistance is available in several forms, including grants, loans, and technical assistance.

Funding Tier Prioritization:  

January 5, 2021:

Tier I: $6 million will be available to businesses located outside of the City of El Paso and within El Paso County.

Tier II: $4 million will be available to businesses located within El Paso city limits.

March 5, 2021:

Any remaining Tier I funds will be made available to any business located within El Paso County, including businesses located within El Paso city limits.

Qualifications: Non-Profit organizations and businesses located in El Paso County that can demonstrate a negative impact due to COVID-19 and who have implemented a health and safety policy pursuant to County Judge’s Orders.  We strongly encourage your business to take the Pledge to Safety.

For all FASTER program guidelines and qualifications click HERE 

Click here for a list of answers to frequently asked questions.

For available program applications and information, please continue scrolling down and see below.

Note: The financial assistance provided by these programs comes in several forms. Many programs, such as grants, do not need to be repaid; however, they may be considered taxable income.  Others, such as loans, have loan forgiveness opportunities. Please read the terms of the programs carefully. Businesses may apply to combine both grant and loan opportunities but the total awards shall not exceed the maximum loan allowed. However, businesses are encouraged to limit their application(s) to one loan provider (Community Foundation, LiftFund, PeopleFund) and one grant provider (EP Chamber, El Paso Hispanic Chamber) to streamline processing of applications. Technical assistance grants offered by Workforce Borderplex Solutions may be combined with other grant and loan programs as well.

Disclaimer: FASTER Program information presented here is subject to change upon final approval by the El Paso County Commissioners Court in January 2021. The program information is intended to provide awareness of the program guidelines and proposed FASTER Program Administrators. Any updates to the program will be shared via this website.

For any questions on the programs please contact the El Paso County Economic Development Department at [email protected]

To receive information regarding available grants, loans, and services, please complete the fields below.

NOTE:   This is not an application.  It is your responsibility to reach out directly to program administrators of the various grant, loan, and assistance programs if they have not contacted you directly. For assistance please contact the El Paso County Economic Development Department at [email protected] or call (915) 546-2177

Large Loan Program

Administered By:

Administered by Borderplex Community Capital (EP Community Foundation)

Loan Amounts:

$35K to $125K

Program Type:

Zero Interest & Forgivable Loan Program

Program Application Information:

Large Loan Program:  Click Here

Build Safe Grant Programs

Administered By:

Administered by El Paso Chamber & El Paso Hispanic Chamber

Grant Amounts:

Up to $10,000

Program Type:

Microgrants Supporting Operational Safety Improvements (PPE/Guards/Signage)

Program Application Information:

The El Paso County FASTER program has exhausted grant funding and is no longer accepting applications for the above grant programs. If  you are seeking financial assistance, please consider the forgivable loan programs also available under the FASTER program through the El Paso Community Foundation, People Fund and LiftFund. If you would like to be contacted regarding new grant opportunities, please fill out the referral form above. This site will be updated if additional grant funding becomes available.

Small Loan Programs

Administered By:

LiftFund & PeopleFund

Loan Amounts:

Up to $50K

Program Type:

Zero Interest & Forgivable Loan Program

Program Application Information:

Lift Fund Loan Program: Click Here

People Fund Loan Program: Click Here

** PLEASE APPLY TO ONE PROGRAM ONLY**

Commercial Assistance Grant Programs

Administered By:

El Paso Chamber & El Paso Hispanic Chamber


Grant Amounts:

Up to $10,000

Program Type:

Microgrants for Commercial Mortgage/Rental & Utility Assistance

Program Application Information:

The El Paso County FASTER program has exhausted grant funding and is no longer accepting applications for the above grant programs. If  you are seeking financial assistance, please consider the forgivable loan programs also available under the FASTER program through the El Paso Community Foundation, People Fund and LiftFund. If you would like to be contacted regarding new grant opportunities, please fill out the referral form above. This site will be updated if additional grant funding becomes available.

Technology Solutions Grant Program

Administered By:

Workforce Solutions Borderplex

Grant Amounts:

Based on Needs

Program Type:

Technical & Equipment Acquisition Assistance for Local Businesses

Program Application Information

To Schedule an Appointment:  Click Here

Other Business Resources

COVID-19 Funding Options

A resource of private funding options to help small businesses. Browse options available nationally, or input a zip code to explore location-specific funding.

Learn More

U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET.  The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.
 
First Draw PPP Loans are for those borrowers who have not received a PPP loan before August 8, 2020. The first round of the PPP, which ran from March to August 2020, was a historic success helping 5.2 million small businesses keep 51 million American workers employed.  

Second Draw PPP Loans are for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less, that previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will use or have used the full amount only for authorized uses, and that can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million.

Updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources are available at www.sba.gov/ppp and www.treasury.gov/cares. 
Learn More


Pledge to Safety

The City of El Paso continues to invite local business owners to take the Pledge to Safety to protect the health and safety of employees and customers. By taking this pledge to comply with all requirements and recommendations we can instill community confidence and highlight our businesses that are going above and beyond to keep customers safe. To join the more than 200 businesses that have taken the pledge, visit epstrong.org.
 
This program is a partnership between the City of El Paso, El Paso County, Downtown Management District, Destination El Paso, Paso del Norte Health Foundation, Better Business Bureau, El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Locomotive FC, and the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Learn More

Disclaimer: The epbusinessstrong.org website is intended to provide awareness regarding important information relating to business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Better Business Bureau does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information disclosed or product or service referenced on the epbusinessstrong.org website. Where available, original sources of information have been provided or cited. This information is not to be relied upon for legal or medical matters. If you need medical assistance, please contact your physician or dial 911. Sources of equipment or services provided are not considered an endorsement or guaranty of that service or product. The epbusinessstrong.org web site is updated regularly; however, if you become aware of any inaccurate or outdated information on epbusinessstrong.org, please contact us at [email protected] immediately.