3 days ago
County launches program to help small businesses recover from pandemic
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County announced that it is launching its first-ever Countywide assistance program to support small and micro businesses.
The County made the announcement on Tuesday, June 4.
The Technical Assistance Training Program will be funded with federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, passed during the Biden Administration.
The program is designed to support businesses that were impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic. It will provide training, one-one-one guidance and access to grant funding.
The initiative emphasizes equity by focusing on women-owned and veteran-owned businesses to help address the challenges these groups often face, the County said.
The Technical Assistance Program is backed by a $1 million ARPA investment, with $750,000 dedicated to small business grants and $250,000 for program operations including staffing, outreach, and administration.
Eligible businesses that complete the training and needs survey will be considered for grant awards.
'The program is a major step toward building a stronger, more resilient local economy, with 75% of funds going directly to businesses in form of grants,' the County said.
El Paso County said it is partnering with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (EPHCC) and Project Vida to deliver training, mentorship, and outreach.
The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will provide workshops and business support, while Project Vida will offer individualized assistance and lead a comprehensive needs survey effort.
The Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at UTEP is supporting the program by collecting and analyzing data, measuring its impact, and offering research-driven insights to guide decisions and improve outreach.
To reach businesses across the region, the County and its partners will host four outreach events— one in each precinct.
At these events, business owners can meet with Project Vida, complete the needs survey, and begin the process to access assistance and funding.
Upcoming outreach event dates are as follow, starting at 10 a.m.:
• Precinct 1: June 12, Montana Vista Community Center, 14618 Greg Dr.
• Precinct 2: June 20, EPHCC Training Center, 4141 Pinnacle St. Suite 120
• Precinct 3: June 25, La Bodega Loya, 10257 Socorro Rd., Socorro
• Precinct 4: July 2, EPCC Northwest Campus Library, South Desert Blvd.
All eligible business owners are encouraged to attend and participate in this important effort to strengthen the small business community in El Paso County.
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