Bexar County is being sued for racial discrimination by a local business owner.

Candlelight Pourhouse, a St. Mary’s strip restaurant, has officially been approved for a Covid-Construction Recovery Grant, according to LiftFund.

A Latina leader from South Texas discusses her roots

SAN ANTONIO – Small business owners in San Antonio struggling to stay afloat are being urged to “take the helm” as they navigate turbulent financial waters during the pandemic. Every day we never know what tomorrow is going to be,” said Arthur Perez, co-owner of Cadeaux, a gift shop downtown. “They will be providing meaningful support to small businesses that are the backbone of our community, many of which are minority-owned,” Schmitt said. AdHe said given the lack of parking, Cadeaux now offers valet service. So they walk in, they shop, I valet their car upstairs, and then I bring it back down,” Perez said.

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Commissioners approved a $4 million grant program on Tuesday aimed specifically at the area’s hard-hit bar and restaurant industry. The program, which will be administered by LiftFund, includes $3.75 million for grants of up to $25,000. The money will go to Bexar County bars and restaurants that have not already received help through previous city and county grant programs. So this round is to help make up for that,” said Deborah Carter, director of economic and community development for Bexar County. A county spokeswoman said Tuesday that Judge Nelson Wolff has submitted the necessary paperwork to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to allow bars to reopen in Bexar County, but it had not yet been approved.

That grant puts her in the company of the lucky 709 businesses and 45 nonprofits that have been tapped for a COVID-19 recovery grant by the city so far. A portion of the grant money is reserved for nonprofits. LiftFund, which is administering the grants on behalf of the city, says it originally received 3,137 applications, requesting a total of $118 million. Perry had been the lone “no” vote against the Recovery and Resiliency Plan when the city council passed it in June. Lopez said the city is also working with other organizations to begin reaching out to the hundreds of businesses who didn’t receive grants.

Greg Abbott announced a new initiative Monday, making $50 million in loans available to Texas small businesses to help stay afloat through the coronavirus crisis. Abbott was joined by Janie Barrera, President and CEO of LiftFund, and John Waldron, President and COO of Goldman Sachs, and a few small business owners to make the announcement. During the news conference, Abbott announced that Goldman Sachs, LiftFund and other community-developed financial institutions would be partnering to give $50 million in loans to small businesses affected by COVID-19. The loan is part of the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” program. The loan is made through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.