SAN ANTONIO — Applications for the City of San Antonio's Small Business Construction Support grant are now open. Businesses impacted by construction across the city can apply.
For the past few years, Alexandra Gerros has had a front seat to the construction on Broadway. Her vintage store, Maxiss Modern opened just before construction began.
"If they were jackhammering close to my storefront, there would be no nobody coming in the door," Gerros said. "If they were working on a different section of the street. Maybe I'd have one or two people come in that day."
Gerros relies on foot traffic and accessibility to her business to make profit. As a result of construction, she's tacked on an additional full-time job to pay bills. She will be applying for the grant.
"Technically, on my my taxes, it's going to be over $16,000 of loss just from 2023," she said. "For starters, they [grant application] are comparing my income on 2022 to my loss on 2023, which is great, but that's just kind of the beginning."
Bo Lim, one of the owners of Golden Star Cafe is still debating on applying, as she has been denied the grant three times already.
"It's just a drop in the bucket to what they can help these businesses because the losses, are also for rent, for utilities and taxes and things like that," Lim said. "There are other factors that, come into play. When you're not getting any money, revenue coming in, how do you pay for these things?"
Businesses can receive anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000. $1.28 million dollars are allocated for the grant.
The city's department of economic development which oversees the grant wrote e:
"We continue to work with the businesses to provide on-going support and guidance. There have been numerous small businesses who have greatly benefited from previous grants that the City has awarded. To further our support, we have a team of Business Outreach Specialists who are our "feet on the ground" team who are dedicated to personally meeting with each business owners to assist them with resources and guide them in their day-to-day challenges."
From the beginning of construction to qualifications for the grant, both Gerros and Lim are frustrated.
"We're not against construction," Lim said. "It has to happen, but there's got to be a better way to do it without costing people their livelihoods or their businesses."
Applications close on July 15. For more information on eligibility requirements, click HERE.