(Seguin) — The city of Seguin wants to help local businesses make some much needed improvements. The city’s Business Improvement Grant program, better known as BIG, is currently accepting applications. The deadline to submit those applications is Friday, January 6.
Seguin Economic Development Director Josh Schneuker recently provided an update to the Seguin City Council on the success of the program. He says what started as a pandemic relief effort has grown into something more.
“We worked to establish this program, through you all’s approval, all the way back in July of 2021. That is when we got the original approval on this program, and it really was geared towards — at the start — providing some additional COVID related assistance to businesses that were impacted. But it also was trying to implement a new program that could direct some direct economic financial incentives to businesses, and really entice them to make improvements in their business. For us as a city, I think that’s all about the spinoff effects that you can get from that. You know when a business is making an improvement, that helps you know grow the value that we see on the tax rolls. So it’s really, I think, a win-win situation for both the business [and the city], said Schneucker.
Applicants may be eligible for a maximum 75 percent matching grant, not to exceed $10,000. City officials say a number of improvements are eligible for the reimbursement grant program. The list includes sign, site and other real property improvements.
Applying businesses can submit their completed application via email to BIG@seguintexas.gov. The applications can also be mailed directly to the city of Seguin, 205 N. River Street, Seguin, Texas 78155, or applications can be physically dropped off at the City of Seguin’s Economic Development Department, located at 211 N. River Street, Seguin, Texas 78155.
Applicants must review and acknowledge the Seguin BIG Program Guidelines before applying. The BIG application and the program guidelines can be found on the city’s website, seguintexas.gov.