The Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR) is open to all food services and drinking places November 1st-22nd who have a NAICS 722 code operating in the state of Texas. This is a grant program that awards $20,000 to Texas privately owned for-profit and non-profit businesses that suffered economic harm during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Texas Restaurant Association, in coalition with various other Texas organizations in commerce, food, travel, arts, and drinking, pushed for the allocation of funds to support Texas-operated private and non-profit businesses when the 87th Texas Legislature met last year.
The Texas Legislature created the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program and gave it 180 million dollars from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act.
With the TTIR, Texas Economic Development will provide one-time grants of $20,000 to qualified businesses that suffered negative economic impacts from the pandemic. You can still apply for the TTIR even if you benefited from the Payment Protection Program or other recovery programs.
Throughout the year, Texas Economic Development has been distributing these grants by specific dates to specific Texas industries. Starting in July–August, breweries, distilleries, wineries, RV parks, reservation services, campgrounds, and others had the time to apply for the grant. In September, Texas industries in arts, entertainment, and recreation had their time to apply. In October, Texas businesses in tourism, hospitality, and traveler accommodations could apply for the grant.
Now, November 1st-22nd is when Texas privately owned or non-profit food industries or drinking places can apply.
According to the U.S. Bureau and Labor Statistics, an industry with a NAICS 722 code is “industries in the Food Services and Drinking Places subsector that prepare meals, snacks, and beverages to customer order for immediate on-premises and off-premises consumption…Some provide food and drink only; while others provide various combinations of seating space, waiter/waitress services, and incidental amenities, such as limited entertainment…The industry groups are full-service restaurants; limited-service eating places; special food services, such as food service contractors, caterers, and mobile food services; and drinking places.”
According to Texas Economic Development, the qualifications to apply for the grant are as follows:
- In operation before January 20, 2020
- Operate in the State of Texas
- Privately-owned for-profit business or non-profit organization
- Open to the public or provide services for in-person events
- business or organization in the eligible NAICS codes listed for the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries (NAICS codes 71, 722, 7211, 7212, 5615, 561920, 312120, 312130, 312140)
- Suffered negative economic impact due to COVID-19
- Otherwise eligible to receive this grant funding and not barred from competing for federal awards, including the guidelines on government-wide suspension and debarment in 2 CFR part 180 or for any other reason.
Additionally, the program can be awarded to businesses that do not file Texas Sales and Use Tax forms, who can apply under the:
- Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Report (Comptroller of Public Accounts Form 12-100)
- Non-Profit organization Return (IRS Tax Form 990) Personal Federal Income Tax Return
- (IRS Form 1040) U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return
- (IRS Form 1120) U.S. Return of Partnership Income (IRS Form 1065)
All organizations who partnered with the Texas Restaurant Association for the grant are: Texas Travel Alliance, Texas Distilled Spirits Association, Theatre Owners of Mid-America, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association, Texas Campgrounds, Texas Craft Brewers Guild, NFIB Texas, and Live Events Coalition Texas