Applications being accepted Monday, November 16, 2020 at 8 a.m. through Monday, November 23, 2020 at 6 p.m.

Program Description

The Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce Assistance Grant program is designed to provide financial assistance, through the use of CARES Act funds, to local Chambers of Commerce that have been adversely impacted by the current COVID-19 public health emergency while continuing to assist and provide services to their membership and local businesses in need. Due to their non-profit status, Chambers of Commerce have found it difficult to access other Federal and local grants or loans.  This grant program is aimed at assisting Chambers of Commerce with the costs of business interruption caused by the pandemic. The dollar amount of individual grants will be determined by the financial information provided, with a maximum grant amount of $50,000.

Eligibility Requirements

•    Chamber of Commerce must be located in and/or providing services to Chamber members within Tarrant County, outside the City of Fort Worth.
•    Chamber of Commerce must be a non-profit 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(3) organization operating with members as of January 1, 2020.
•    Chamber of Commerce operations must have been impacted because of the COVID-19 public health emergency and in need of reimbursement for business interruption and/or incurred costs.

Grant Funding

•    Grant funding eligibility and the grant reimbursement amount will be determined based on the financial and other information provided in the application, along with the required documentation.
•    To establish grant eligibility, the Chamber must show an impact when April and May 2020 business related deposits are compared to January and February 2020 or to April and May 2019 business related deposits.
•    The amount eligible for reimbursement by the Grant is two and one-half (2.5) times the average monthly payroll expense calculated using the Form 941 submitted with the application, multiplied by the percentage of Chamber Members with businesses/addresses located within Tarrant County, outside the City of Fort Worth to total membership
•    The dollar amount of each Chamber grant will be determined as outlined above, up to a maximum grant amount of $50,000.
•    Completed applications and required documentation will be reviewed and recommended for award by the Tarrant County Auditor’s Office. Following approval by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, a check for the grant award will be issued to the applicable Chamber of Commerce and mailed to the address listed in the provided Form W-9.  
•    Tarrant County is a governmental body subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Information submitted to Tarrant County in the application may be subject to the Act and, therefore, subject to public release.

Documentation Required with Application Submittal

•    U.S. Government Issued Identification for person authorized to submit application on behalf of the Chamber (One required)

• Driver’s License,
• Passport, or
• Other Government Issued ID
  

•    Form W-9 (completed and signed)

•    Payroll Documentation:

• 1st quarter 2020 (January through March) Form 941

•    Expense Documentation: 

• 2019 Form 990

•    January 2020, February 2020, April 2020, May 2020, Aprils 2019 and May 2019 Bank Statements for the Chamber applying for grant funding.

Program Timeline

•    Chambers of Commerce may make application for grant funding under this program beginning Monday, November 16 through Monday, November 23, 2020.
•    Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and grant award prior to December 30, 2020.