Recovery Assistance Available for Texas Travel Industry

The Conroe Economic Development Council (CEDC) is pleased to share details about the recently launched Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR Program). Between now and November 22, Conroe businesses and organizations can apply for one-time grants of up to $20,000 that will be issued to reimburse eligible costs to qualifying Texas entities negatively impacted by COVID-19 in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry. Applications will be accepted in phases through the TTIR Program Portal following timelines sorted by industry groupings identified by NAICS codes. 

TTIR Program Application Timelines 

(Application deadlines are subject to change; please check the program portal for updates):

• Category 1 – July 6 to August 7, 2022 
  • NAICS 312120, 312130, 312140, 5615, 561920, and 7212
  • Breweries, Microbreweries; Wineries; Distilleries
  • Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services; Convention and Visitors Bureaus
  • Convention and Trade Show Organizers, Event and Meeting Planning Services
  • RV Parks and Recreational Camps; Campgrounds
• Category 2 – September 1 to September 22, 2022  
  • NAICS 71
  • Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
• Category 3 – October 1 to October 22, 2022  
  • NAICS 7211
  • Traveler Accommodation: Hotels and Motels, Bed and Breakfast
• Category 4 – November 1 to November 22, 2022 
  • NAICS 722
  • Food Services and Drinking Places
• Category 5 
  • If funds remain after the first four phases, a fifth phase will revisit any unfunded applications to award the remaining funds.

TTIR Program Eligibility and Application

Only privately-owned for-profit and non-profit entities operating in Texas before January 20, 2020, and falling into the qualifying NAICS categories are eligible for TTIR Program funding. Please refer to NAICS to determine whether your organization or business qualifies in one of the relevant NAICS codes.

Each application is evaluated and scored based on established criteria. Applications with tie scores will be further assessed for grant approval via timestamp data for submission order. 

Even if an entity received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, it may still be eligible for funding through the TTIR Program. Businesses that have not received any or have received minimal federal aid due to COVID-19, including the PPP, Shuttered Venues Grant (SVG), the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), or U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Debt Relief, will be scored higher than businesses that have received more than minimal federal aid of this type.

The TTIR Program application requires all applicants to submit supporting documents with their application to demonstrate compliance with grant and eligibility requirements. For a list of those required documents and the application, please refer to the program portal.

TTIR Program Priority Groups

The TTIR Program includes a total of $180 million received from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Priority groups, assuming the relevant entity meets all other eligibility requirements, include:  

• Businesses demonstrating the largest negative financial impact as determined by total Texas sales;  
• Businesses that have not received any or have received minimal federal aid due to COVID-19, including the PPP, SVG, RRF, or SBA Debt Relief;  
• Veteran-owned businesses;  
• Businesses located in a Qualified Census Tract, Difficult Development Area, or nonmetropolitan area as determined by the Office of Management and Budget;  
• Small businesses (no more than 500 employees, or, if applicable, the size standard in number of employees established by the Administrator of the SBA for the industry in which the business concern or organization operates; or is a small business concern as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)); and  
• For-profit entities, Destination Marketing Organizations, and Convention and Visitor Bureaus.

TTIR Application Assistance

• Visit the program portal to apply for a grant and learn about eligibility and grant application details, deadlines, and more.
• View the application video tutorial for a detailed walkthrough of the application process.
• Visit the FAQs for more information about priority groups, eligibility, and more. 
• Contact the TTIR staff for any other questions. 

TTIR Program Webinars

The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office is hosting a series of webinars (prior are also viewable) for specific industry groups to provide more information and answer questions on the program and application process.

Upcoming Webinars

• Thursday, August 11 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST | Traveler Accommodation Webinar (NAICS 7211)
• Thursday, September 1 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST | Food Services and Drinking Places Webinar (NAICS 722) 

Texas Travel and Tourism Industry Recovery

The Texas travel and tourism industry is vital to the state's economy, creating jobs and injecting dollars into local communities. The TTIR Program intends to aid the industry in its continued recovery and expansion.

In 2019, travelers spent $83 billion on travel in Texas. While the industry was greatly affected by limitations imposed by the pandemic, the industry is starting to see a substantial return in Texas. In fact, according to Visit Conroe, direct visitor spending was over $136.1 million in Conroe in 2021!

Conroe Economic Development Council

The CEDC is a proud recipient of the Texas Economic Development Council’s Economic Excellence Recognition, which highlights our intention to provide excellent service and professional support to new and existing businesses within Conroe. Please contact us for more information on the ways we can help businesses in Conroe.