State grant program helps travel industry business hit by COVID-19

Beginning Feb. 1, the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office will open up another round of one-time grants of up to $20,000 each to local businesses who were negatively impacted by COVID-19.

The Texas Travel Industry Recovery (TTIR) Grant Program was established by Senate Bill 8 and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott following the 87th legislative session to administer $180 million of funds received from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, according to Adriana Cruz, executive director of the Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, which is a division of the Office of the Governor.

Industries eligible for TIIR assistance include passenger car rentals; scenic and sightseeing transportation; charter bus industry; inland water passenger transportation; coastal and Great Lakes passenger transportation; deep sea passenger transportation; nonscheduled chartered passenger air and scheduled passenger air transportation; arts, entertainment, and recreation; food services and drinking places; traveler accommodation: hotels, motels, beds and breakfasts; RV parks and recreational camps; traveler arrangement and reservation services and convention and visitors bureaus; convention and trade show organizers and event and meeting planning services; breweries and microbreweries; wineries; and distilleries.

“Applicants must submit supporting documents along with their application to demonstrate compliance with grant and eligibility requirements. This application round will remain open until remaining funds are dispersed,” Cruz said.

For eligibility and grant application details, deadlines, an application instruction video, and the TTIR application portal, visit ttir.gov.texas.gov.