Brazos Valley Regional Economic Disaster Resiliency LEON Continuity of ROBERTSON Operations Plan MADISON
BRAZOS GRIMES BURLESON
WASHINGTON PRPC
NORTEX SPAG TEXOMA ARK-TEX
WCTCOG NCTCOG ETCOG
PBRPC HOTCOG CTCOG CVCOG DETCOG CAPCOG RGCOG SETRPC MRGDC H-GAC AACOG GCRPC RESILIENCY PLAN FOR: CBCOG
STDC LRGVDC (YOUR BUSINESS NAME) Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Table of Contents Objectives of Economic Disaster Resiliency Continuity of Operations Plan ...... 1 Economic Disaster Resiliency Planning Process ...... 1 Risk Assessment ...... 1 Business Impact Analysis (BIA) ...... 3 Risk Management ...... 4 Business Continuity Plan ...... 4 COVID-19 Risk Management ...... 5 Step 1: About Your Business ...... 1 Step 2: Business Continuity & Recovery Planning Team ...... 2 Step 3: Critical Operations ...... 3 Step 4: Key Suppliers and Contractors ...... 2 Step 5: Vital Records and Files ...... 4 Step 6: Critical Equipment/Machinery/Vehicles ...... 6 Step 7: Computer Inventory Form ...... 7 Step 8: Miscellaneous Inventory Form ...... 8 Step 9: Information Technology Security...... 9 Step 10: Alternate/ Temporary Business Location ...... 10 Step 11: Employee Contacts ...... 11 Step 12: Key Business Contacts ...... 12 Step 13: Insurance ...... 17 Appendix ...... 18 Brazos Valley in Perspective ...... 18 Geography ...... 18 Population ...... 18 Economy ...... 19 Threats and Hazards ...... 20 Available Funds for Economic Disaster Recovery ...... 21 Additional Resources ...... 32
Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Objectives of Economic Disaster Resiliency Continuity of Operations Plan The Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG) Region consists of seven counties, including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington. The region is no stranger to disasters. The Brazos Valley has experienced nine Presidential Declarations since 2015. These disasters adversely impact businesses in the region. One in four businesses do not survive after a large disaster strikes, according to Civil Defense Wellington Region Emergency Management Office. In order for businesses to be resilient, the key is to take steps ahead of time to ensure our organization can stay in touch with local businesses after any type of major incident and to set up a plan of action for disaster response and recovery. The information contained in this Brazos Valley Regional Economic Disaster Resiliency Continuity of Operations Plan is designed to address business continuity planning and economic recovery. The main objective of this plan is:
To assist local businesses, economic development organizations, and local jurisdictions to improve their ability to quickly recover from disasters. This resiliency plan outlines the organization’s strategy for responding to emergency or disaster, provides information essential to continuity of critical business functions, and identifies the resources needed to:
ensure safety of personnel; communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders; provide timely emergency support and grant making service to the community; protect assets and vital records (electronic data and hardcopy); maintain continuity of mission-critical services and support operations.
By having a resiliency plan, businesses are more likely to adapt, survive and thrive even when things go wrong. The Brazos Valley Regional Economic Disaster Resiliency Continuity of Operations Plan includes 13 steps with forms which, when completed, will provide businesses with the basics of a customized business continuity plan (BCP) which will help all businesses to be prepared for any threats and hazards. The Brazos Valley Profile, Resilience Planning Process information, and additional resources are included following the forms in the appendix.
Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Economic Disaster Resiliency Planning Process The economic disaster resiliency planning process involves the recovery, resumption, and maintenance of the entire business, not just the technology component, in the wake of disasters. Economic disaster resiliency planning involves the development of an enterprise-wide Business Continuity Plan and the prioritization of business objectives and critical operations that are essential for recovery. This enterprise-wide framework should consider how every critical process, business unit, department, and system will respond to disruptions and which recovery solutions should be implemented.
Economic Disaster Resiliency Planning consists of three steps and they are: 1. Risk Assessment; 2. Business Impact Analysis (BIA); and 3. Risk Management. Risk Assessment Using a ranking and prioritization system for natural hazard events, each risk is ranked in accordance with likelihood and impact. As an example, businesses surveyed ranked power failure as the most critical impact on their business. Other items rated that would have an impact on businesses included damage to buildings, computers, equipment, loss of inventory, etc. The following table could be used to assess risk:
Risk Consequence Probability Impact Severity Risk 1 Power Failure H H H Risk 2 Damage to Computers/Equipment H H H Risk 3 Loss of Inventory H M M Risk 4 Loss of Supplier/Vendor M M M Risk 5 Loss of Documents/Records M H M Risk 6 Loss of Staff and/or Customers L H H Risk 7 Transportation H M M
Once you have identified the risk for each, begin to address each in accordance with highest priority. Focus on the most serious risks and most critical functions. It may also be helpful to consider other non-natural risks that could impact your business, such as:
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Incident/Risk Likelihood Preventative Measure Impact on Business There is a fire and you Low Fire resistant Forced to run at 20% of are not able to use your equipment, alternative normal activities for a week. site for weeks site You are burgled and Medium to Insurance? Good Forced to run at 80% of some damage to your High Security? Separate normal activity for a week. property has taken place. offsite computer back- up files There is a power failure Low Backup generator that lasts for days
Risks to be considered include those from natural hazards, building environment, political or social unrest and risks connected to IT and data security. These risks may impact business operations on several levels:
1 1-2 Day Business Disruption An emergency or disaster that exceeds the capabilities and capacities of a city and/or county government response but has a short duration such as a service outage, building outage, major fire, or site utility failure. May affect a large number of people for a short amount of time. All operations resume on-site in < 48 hrs. 2 1 - 2 Week Business Disruption A crisis moderate to severe in scope. A business may have partial access to facility and/or primary IT systems. Examples include service loss, building access loss or local utility failure. May also include a regional event such as terrorism, contagious diseases or weather related disaster. Some business operations moved off-site. Small-scale work-from home/ alternate site and remote access. All operations resume on-site in < 14 days. 3 > 2 Week Business Disruption A disaster including a complete loss of facility and/or primary IT systems. Regional utility failure. All critical business operations moved off-site. Large-scale work-from-home/alternate site and remote access. All operations resume on-site in < 30 days or a new site is required.
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is a systematic process to determine and evaluate the potential effects of an interruption to critical business operations as a result of a disaster, accident or emergency. It is done to determine which tasks and functions are critical for the businesses. One of the basic assumptions behind Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is that every component of the organization is reliant upon the continued functioning of every other component, but that some are more crucial than others and require a greater allocation of funds in the wake of a disaster.
Complete the forms below with business operations in the appropriate critical level. This could include a power failure at a high critical level, or check cutting at medium critical level.
High Level: Immediate restoration required. Maximum outage or downtime is 1 to 5 days.
Department/ Function Activity Location Performed by
Medium Level: Function can be suspended for 2-4 weeks or will operate without personnel action or intervention for 2-4 weeks.
Department/ Function Activity Location Performed by
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Low Level: Function can be suspended for 31+ days without causing immediate or irreparable damage to the Business.
Department/ Function Activity Location Performed by
Risk Management It is the process of identifying, assessing, and reducing risk to an acceptable level through the development, implementation, and maintenance of a written, enterprise-wide Business Continuity Plan (BCP).
Business Continuity Plan In the aftermath of recent natural disasters, businesses have recognized more than ever the need to be prepared. Companies are striving to meet the demand for continuous service. An organization faces expectations from all sides; customers expect supplies and services to continue in all situations; shareholders expect management control to remain operational through any crisis; employees expect both their lives and livelihoods to be protected; suppliers expect their revenue streams to continue; regulatory agencies expect their requirements to be met; and insurance companies expect due care to be exercised.
Business survival necessitates planning for every type of business disruption including, but not limited to, natural disasters, hardware and communication failures, and failure of supply chain and sales organizations.
Business continuity planning is used to create and validate a practiced plan for how a business or organization will recover and restore partially or completely interrupted critical function(s) within a predetermined time after a disaster or extended disruption. The well-planned business survives with minimal impact when disaster strikes. Disasters can strike at any time and may take one of several forms individually or collectively – power outages, floods, storms, equipment failure, sabotage, terrorism, and many other factors can contribute to a disruption of normal business
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments operation. Most of us recognize these as possibilities but are you prepared to ride it out with minimal or no loss of data and loss of business revenue and customer goodwill?
COVID-19 Risk Management In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly important to establish risk management policies to reduce the exposure of the virus by use of social distancing and sanitation. Social distancing should include maintaining a distance of 6 feet from each other when possible, and avoiding large crowds.
With the implementation of social distancing, this also could include reducing activities that require staff to be in close contact with others for prolong periods of time. This could mean having employees work from home, or rearranging the workplace layout so there are greater distances between them. Other physical distancing strategies include:
Providing only essential services or products to have minimum staff requirements to support those services. Implement flexible worksites (e.g. working from home) or work hours (e.g., staggered shifts) Increasing physical space between employees at the workspace (e.g., moving computer workstations further apart). Increasing physical space between employees and customers (e.g., installing partitions in front of cashiers). Implementing flexible meeting options by use of teleconference or video Encouraging contactless delivery at designated sites and contactless electronic payments
It is also important to have employees notify their employer if they are travelling to an affected area and to continuously monitor for common symptoms of COVID-19. If they are sick or show symptoms, they should not report to work until they receive approval from their primary physician.
(THIS SECTION INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 1: About Your Business PRIMARY BUSINESS LOCATION SECONDARY BUSINESS LOCATION
Business name Business name
Street Address Street Address
City, State, ZIP Code City, State, ZIP Code
Telephone Number Telephone Number
PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT ALTERNATE POINT OF CONTACT Primary Emergency Contact Primary Emergency Contact
Telephone Number Telephone Number
Alternate Telephone Number Alternate Telephone Number
Email Address Email Address
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION- DIAL 911 IN AN EMERGENCY
Non-Emergency Police Electricity Provider
Non-Emergency Fire Gas Provider
Insurance Provider Water Provider
Other (e.g.: Equipment Manufacturer) Other (e.g.: Property Management)
Other (e.g.: Hazmat Spill Clean-up) Other (e.g.: Property Security)
Other (e.g.: IT Support Contractor) Other (e.g.: Bank Agent)
Other Other
Other Other
Other Other
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 2: Business Continuity & Recovery Planning Team The following people will participate in business continuity and recovery planning.
NAME POSITION EMAIL Incident Commander Finance Coordinator Administration Coordinator Information & Technology Coordinator Human Resources Coordinator Public Relations & Communication Coordinator Program/Grants Coordinator
Meeting Schedule
The emergency planning team will meet on a regular basis.
DATE LOCATION TOPIC
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 3: Critical Operations Identify operations that are critical for business survival. Does your business provide services crucial to the incident response? How will you continue to perform these functions in a disaster situation? What operations are necessary to fulfill legal and financial obligations? Which are necessary to maintain cash flow and reputation?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines essential functions as “those functions that cannot be interrupted for more than 12 hours or those that must be resumed within 30 days”. In considering your most critical functions, please ensure that the functions listed below encompass key activities in which your organization fulfills on a day to day basis. This may include finance, supply and trading, IT, and payroll.
PROCEDURES TO RESTART OPERATION AFTER MINIMAL DISASTER IMPACT: If a disaster causes negligible or marginal impact on operations, these procedures will help to restart the operation in the same location.
PROCEDURES TO COMPLETELY RESTORE OPERATION AFTER SIGNIFICANT DISASTER IMPACT: If a disaster causes critical or catastrophic impact on operations, these procedures will help to restore the operation in the same location, an alternate location, or a new location.
OPERATION: Staff In-Charge (Position) Staff In-Charge (Name)
Key Supplies/ Equipment Key Suppliers/ Contractors
Procedures to Restart Operation after Minimal Disaster Impact
Procedures to Completely Restore Operation after Significant Disaster Impact
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
OPERATION: Staff In-Charge (Position) Staff In-Charge (Name)
Key Supplies/ Equipment Key Suppliers/ Contractors
Procedures to Restart Operation after Minimal Disaster Impact
Procedures to Completely Restore Operation after Significant Disaster Impact
OPERATION: Staff In-Charge (Position) Staff In-Charge (Name)
Key Supplies/ Equipment Key Suppliers/ Contractors
Procedures to Restart Operation after Minimal Disaster Impact
Procedures to Completely Restore Operation after Significant Disaster Impact
OPERATION: Staff In-Charge (Position) Staff In-Charge (Name)
Key Supplies/ Equipment Key Suppliers/ Contractors
Procedures to Restart Operation after Minimal Disaster Impact
Procedures to Completely Restore Operation after Significant Disaster Impact
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 4: Key Suppliers and Contractors The following is a list of suppliers and contractors that are critical to maintaining business.
BUSINESS NAME: Street Address Contact Name
City, State, ZIP Code: Contact Telephone Number
Telephone Number: Fax Number Contact Email
Emergency Telephone Website Does this business have a continuity plan?
Material/ Service Provided
If this company experiences a disaster, we will obtain materials/ services from the following:
BUSINESS NAME: Street Address Contact Name
City, State, ZIP Code Contact Telephone Number
Telephone Number Fax Number Contact Email
Emergency Telephone Website Does this business have a continuity plan?
Material/ Service Provided
If this company experiences a disaster, we will obtain materials/ services from the following:
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 4: Key Suppliers and Contractors (continued)
BUSINESS NAME: Street Address Contact Name
City, State, ZIP Code Contact Telephone Number
Telephone Number Fax Number Contact Email
Emergency Telephone Website Does this business have a continuity plan?
Material/ Service Provided
If this company experiences a disaster, we will obtain materials/ services from the following:
BUSINESS NAME: Street Address Contact Name
City, State, ZIP Code Contact Telephone Number
Telephone Number Fax Number Contact Email
Emergency Telephone Website Does this business have a continuity plan?
Material/ Service Provided
If this company experiences a disaster, we will obtain materials/ services from the following:
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 5: Vital Records and Files You will use this form to identify records that are vital to perform your critical business functions. Your business cannot operate without its vital records and critical information. The following questions may help you determine what records need to be backed up on one or more “media” and maintained off site and/or in storage: Is the record required for business success? Is it required for legal reasons? Is it required by a regulatory agency? Is it required to support recovery efforts? If you answered YES to any of the above, then answer the following: Is it impossible to re-create? Are copies unavailable at a remote location? If you answered YES to either one of the last two questions, consider the record vital. It should be duplicated and included in recovery inventories.
If you answered NO to all of the above, then the record is not considered vital and should not be included in recovery inventories.
Examples of vital records include employee data, payroll, financial records, strategic plans, production records, customer/client/patient lists, inventory lists, building plans/blueprints, the lease, insurance records, and research data. You can determine which of these records are necessary to continue performing the critical business functions you have identified. You will likely identify other vital records that are particularly critical to your business’ survival.
Store a copy of all vital information on site and a second in a safe off-site location (some experts recommend at least 40 kilometers away). Make it a critical part of your routine to regularly back up your vital records and other information upon which your company’s success depends.
Keep your inventory list current and make a photographic or videotaped record of your inventory.
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Description Primary Location of Alternate (Backup) Other Sources to Records Location of Records Obtain Records
Settlement Agreements Department File Cabinets Vault Scanned images on Network Drive
Litigation Files Department File Room Scanned images of Outside Counsel/ pleadings on Network Courts Drive
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 6: Critical Equipment/Machinery/Vehicles Use this form for equipment or machinery that is necessary to keep your business operational or that would severely curtail operations if it failed. List anything that plugs in, as well as tools and spare parts vital to the operation of your equipment or machinery. You may also want to include company-owned vehicles.
Item Model Serial No. Business Function Primary Supplier Alternate Supplier
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 7: Computer Inventory Form Use this form to: Log your computer hardware serial and model numbers. Attach a copy of your vendor documentation to this document. Record the name of the company from which you purchased or leased this equipment and the contact name to notify for your computer repairs. Make additional copies as needed. Keep one copy of this list in a secure place on your premises and another in an off-site location.
HARDWARE INVENTORY Hardware (CPU, Company Monitor, Printer, Model Serial Date Purchased or Cost Keyboard, Purchased Number Purchased Leased From Mouse)
SOFTWARE INVENTORY Name of Serial/ Key Disc or Version Date Purchased Cost Software Number Download
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 8: Miscellaneous Inventory Form Use this form to list the basic items needed to make your recovery site operational, such as office furniture, safes, mail bins, etc.
Recovery Install Item Quantity Primary Supplier Alternate Supplier Location Desks
Table
Chairs
Extension cords
Drop cords
Surge Protectors
Power Strips
File Cabinets
Mail Bins
Portable air conditioners/ Fans Safes
Waste Baskets
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 9: Information Technology Security Data security and back up should be an ongoing process; however it is crucial after a disaster. If you use a contractor for your IT support, they should be including in your business continuity and recovery planning. Identify the records that are essential to perform your critical functions. Vital records may include employee data, payroll, financial and insurance records, customer data, legal and lease documents. Are any impossible to re-create or are copies stored offsite?
DATA SECURITY AND BACK-UP Lead Staff or Contractor Emergency Contact Telephone
Email Alternate Contact Telephone
Back -up Records are stored onsite here Back-up Records are stored offsite here Fax If our accounting and payroll records are destroyed, we will provide for continuity in following ways:
IT ASSET SECURITY Lead Staff or Contractor Emergency Contact Telephone
Email Alternate Contact Telephone
Key Computer Hardware To protect our computer hardware, we will: Fax
Key Computer Software To protect our computer software, we will: Fax
If our computers are destroyed, we will use back-up computers at the following locations:
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 10: Alternate/ Temporary Business Location Determine if it is possible to set up an alternate or temporary business location if your primary site is unavailable. Would this site become your new primary business site? Do you have multiple locations in which you can condense work operations? How much work can be done virtually? Does your business park have options for relocation in the same park? What pre-agreements would you need?
SECOND ALTERNATE BUSINESS ALTERNATE BUSINESS LOCATION LOCATION Street Address Street Address
City, State, ZIP Code City, State, ZIP Code
Telephone Number Telephone Number
Is there a pre-agreement in place? Is there a pre-agreement in place?
POINT OF CONTACT POINT OF CONTACT Contact Name Contact Name
Telephone Number Telephone Number
Alternate Telephone Number Alternate Telephone Number
Email Address Email Address
SITE ASSESSMENT
Number & Type of Staff to work here Number & Type of Staff to work here
Supplies already in place Supplies already in place
Supplies that would be needed Supplies that would be needed
Time to set up operations Time to set up operations
Length of time to stay in this site Length of time to stay in this site
Possible hazards in the area Possible hazards in the area
Notes: Notes:
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 11: Employee Contacts Emergency Name/ Home Address Title Mobile No. E-mail Home Phone Emergency Contact Phone
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 12: Key Business Contacts You will use this form to list your key contacts for administration of your business, emergency response and resumption of your critical business functions. Key contacts include your most important customers, any emergency contacts, such as local health officials and local emergency responders, and any crisis assistance programs.
Key contacts consist of those you rely on for administration of your business, such as your bank, creditors, insurance agent/broker/company, accountant, etc. They also include services in the community you need to help you resume operations, such as utilities, emergency responders, media outlets, business partners and business organizations.
Company Name Contact Name Address Telephone
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Step 13: Insurance Insurance Type Policy Coverage Policy exclusions Insurance Company & contact Last Review Date Payments Due
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Appendix Brazos Valley in Perspective Geography The Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG), consisting of seven (7) counties and 28 municipalities, is a political subdivision of the State of Texas organized and operating under the Texas Regional Planning Act of 1965, as amended, Chapter 391of the Local Government Code, and is comprised of Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson, and Washington Counties. The region covers an area of 5,109 square miles, which is more square miles than Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Vermont, and Hawaii.
The region is also interconnected with major contiguous Texas metropolitan areas such as Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Austin via a network of major thoroughfares such as U.S. 290, IH-45, SH-6, SH-21, SH-36, SH-79, SH-105, and SH-30 to name a few. Major rail lines pass north/south and east/west through the region.
Population As of 2020, the BVCOG serves 365,902 citizens plus 19,744 daily transient students. The three central cities of the region (Bryan, Brenham, and College Station) contain over half of the Brazos Valley population. The regional population has increased by 6.5% in the last 5 years, with significant expansion anticipated over the coming years.
Population Projections for the Brazos Valley Region 700,000
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0 2017 2020 2030 2040 2050 Figure 1 Source U.S. Census Quick Facts http://quickfacts.census.gov
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County / 2017 Change Change % 2000 Census 2010 Census State Estimate Actual 2000-2017
Brazos 152,415 194,851 222,830 70,415 46.20
Burleson 16,470 17,187 18,011 1,541 9.36
Grimes 23,552 26,569 28,082 4,530 19.23
Leon 15,335 16,801 17,243 1,908 12.44
Madison 12,940 13,667 14,222 1,282 9.91
Robertson 16,000 16,622 17,203 1,203 7.52
Washington 30,373 33,708 35,043 4,670 15.38
Brazos Valley 267,085 319,405 352,634 85,549 32.03 Region
Texas 20,851,820 25,145,561 28,304,596 7,452,776 35.74 Source: U.S. Census Quick Facts, http://quickfacts.census.gov
Economy The local economies of Brazos Valley are diverse. Today, the Brazos Valley Region is a technology and educational center, a land of rich natural and cultural resources, and a center for international education and training with 10.6% of the total population being non- Hispanic foreign born in the urban area. Jobs in the region grew by 11,557 to a total of 174,008 jobs.
The economy of the Region is heavily dependent on the government sector and accommodations/food service industry. The government sector within the region include education, hospital, or other local/state governmental agencies. The accommodations/food service sector include restaurants, hotel, and entertainment. The Brazos County contains the majority of these sectors as the main metro area of the region. However, the agricultural industry plays an important role for the region. The region’s products range from livestock and dairy production to poultry and swine to crops including cotton, hay, corn, sorghum, soybeans and fruit. Texas A&M has large agricultural experimental plots throughout the region that provide valuable research. Agriculture by nature is very difficult to protect from terrorism, because of the large, open spaces of land that it incorporates. Any act of agricultural terrorism in the Brazos Valley would have a
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Available Funds for Economic Disaster Recovery
Small Business Administration Loan programs o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: works with lenders to provide loans to small businesses. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. General Small Business Loans, Microloan Program, Real Estate & Equipment Loans, and Disaster Loans. o Eligibility: small businesses o More information: http://www.sba.gov/loanprograms
The SBA 7(a) Loan o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: to help small businesses to purchase real estate, equipment, working capital, or inventory. o Eligibility: small businesses o Max loan amount: $5 million o Interest rate: generally prime + a reasonable rate capped at 2.75% o Terms: loan term varies according to the purpose of the loan, generally up to 25 years of real estate, 10 years for other fixed assets and working capital o Guarantee: 50 to 90% o More information: https://www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program
SBAExpress Loan o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: to buy real estate, refinance debt, and access working capital. o Eligibility: small businesses o Max loan amount: $350,000 o Interest rate: for loans less than $50,000, prime + 6.5%; for loans of $50,000 and greater, prime+4.75%. o Terms: loan term varies according to the purpose of the loan, generally up to 25 years of real estate, 10 years for other fixed assets and working capital o Guarantee: 50% o More information: https://www.fundera.com/business-loans/guides/sba-express- loan
Community Advantage Program o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: Loans are primarily designed for newer, veteran-owned, and underserved businesses that have difficulty securing traditional financing and can benefit from management and technical assistance. o Eligibility: small businesses o Max loan amount: $250,000 o Interest rate: prime + 6%
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o Terms: up to 25 years of real estate, 10 years for equipment and working capital o Guarantee: 75 to 90% o More information: https://fitsmallbusiness.com/sba-community-advantage-loan- program/
SBA Microloan Program o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: Loans are primarily designed for newer, veteran-owned, and underserved businesses that have difficulty securing traditional financing and can benefit from management and technical assistance. o Eligibility: small businesses o Max loan amount: $500 to $50,000 o Interest rate: loans less than $10,000, lender cost + 8.5%; loans $10,000 and greater, lender cost + 7.75%; o Terms: lender negotiated, no early payoff penalty o More information: http://www.sba.gov/loanprograms
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance (Home and Personal Property Loans) o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: If you are in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your home or personal property, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA — even if you do not own a business. As a homeowner, renter and/or personal property owner, you may apply to the SBA for a loan to help you recover from a disaster. o Eligibility: Secondary homes or vacation properties are not eligible for these loans. However, qualified rental properties may be eligible for assistance under the SBA business disaster loan program. o Loan amount: Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to replace or repair their primary residence. Renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 to replace or repair personal property — such as clothing, furniture, cars and appliances — damaged or destroyed in a disaster. o More information: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/HomePersonalPropertyLoans
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance (Business Physical Disaster Loans) o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: If you are in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your business, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA. Businesses of any size and most private nonprofit organizations may apply to the SBA for a loan to recover after a disaster. These loan proceeds may be used for the repair or replacement of Real property, Machinery, Equipment, Fixtures, Inventory and Leasehold improvements. o Eligibility: A business of any size or most private nonprofit organizations that are located in a declared disaster area and have incurred damage during the disaster,
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may apply for a loan to help replace damaged property or restore its pre-disaster condition. o Loan amount: up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations. o More information: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/BusinessPhysicalLoans
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance (Economic Injury Disaster Loans) o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster. o Eligibility: available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere. o Loan amount: up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. o More information: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/EIDLLoans
SBA Disaster Loan Assistance (Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loans) o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: to help an eligible small business meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is unable to, because an essential employee was called-up to active duty in his or her role as a military reservist. o Eligibility: Businesses with the financial capacity to fund their own recovery are not eligible for MREIDL assistance. Federal law requires SBA to determine whether a business has credit available elsewhere — that is, if credit in an amount needed to accomplish full recovery is available from non-government sources without creating an undue financial hardship. o Loan amount: up to $2 million o More information: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/MREIDLLoans
SBA Export Express Loan o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: for business purposes that will enhance a company’s export development. Export Express can take the form of a term loan or a revolving line of credit. As an example, proceeds can be used to fund participation in a foreign trade show, finance standby letters of credit, translate product literature for use in foreign markets, finance specific export orders, as well as to finance expansions, equipment purchases, and inventory or real estate acquisitions, etc.
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o Eligibility: Any business that has been in operation, although not necessarily in exporting, for at least 12 full months and can demonstrate that the loan proceeds will support its export activity. o Loan amount: up to $500,000 o More information: https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oit/resources/5715
SBA International Trade Loan o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: provides small businesses with enhanced export financing options for their export transactions, to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets and, when adversely affected by import competition, make the investments necessary to better compete. The ITL offers a combination of fixed asset, working capital financing and debt refinancing with the SBA’s maximum guaranty— 90 percent— on the total loan amount. o Eligibility: small businesses o Loan amount: $5 million o More information: https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/oit/resources/14832
SBA Working Capital Program o Grantor: U.S. Small Business Administration o Purpose: to purchase inventory to make the products you export or to finance receivables. o Eligibility: small businesses o Loan amount: $5 million o Interest Rate: negotiated between lender and business, fixed or variable rate. o Terms: typically one year, cannot exceed three years o Guarantee: up to 90% o More information: https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/grow-your- business/export-products
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) o Grantor: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development o Purpose: to help cities, counties, and States recover from Presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, subject to availability of supplemental appropriations. It serves to address job losses, impacts to tax revenues, and impact to business. o Eligibility: cities, counties and States. o Limitations: $4.383 billion for Texas o More information: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-dr/
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Skills Development Fund o Grantor: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) o Purpose: provides local customized training opportunities for Texas businesses and workers to increase skill levels and wages of the Texas workforce. o Eligibility: public community and technical colleges, Workforce Development Boards and economic development partners. o Limitations: target average cost per trainee of $1,800. Training for full time employees. o More information: https://twc.texas.gov/partners/skills-development-fund
Skills for Small Business o Grantor: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) o Purpose: supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, emphasizes training for new workers, and helps upgrade the skills of incumbent workers. o Eligibility: small businesses o Limitations: funds tuition and fees up to $1,800 per newly hired employee and up to $900 per incumbent employee. An individual employee can participate once per 12-month period. Funding for training is for full-time employees. o More information: https://twc.texas.gov/programs/skills-small-business-program- overview
High Demand Job Training Program o Grantor: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) o Purpose: to provide high-demand occupational job training in local workforce areas; to support Boards in partnering with local EDCs that use their local economic development sales taxes for high-demand job training. o Eligibility: Local Workforce Development Board o Limitations: one million dollars. o More information: https://twc.texas.gov/high-demand-job-training-program
Jobs & Education for Texans (JET) Grant Program o Grantor: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) o Purpose: provides grants to eligible educational institutions to defray the start-up costs associated with developing career and technical education programs; Supports new, emerging industries or high-demand occupations; Offers new or expanded dual credit career and technical educational opportunities in public high schools. o Eligibility: Public community, state or technical colleges; Independent school districts (ISD) entered into a partnership with a public community, state or technical college o Limitations: $10 million each biennium. o More information: https://twc.texas.gov/partners/jobs-education-texans-jet-grant- program
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Planning and Capacity Building (PCB) Fund (Rural) o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture: o Purpose: Grants for local public facility and housing planning activities. o Eligibility: non-entitlement cities and counties whose populations are less than 50,000 and 200,000 respectively, and are not participating or designated as eligible to participate in the entitlement portion of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program. o Limitations: $55,000 and competitive application process. o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/PlanningandCapacityBuildingFun d.aspx
Disaster Relief Fund (Rural) o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture o Purpose: Cities and counties may apply following a disaster declaration or for qualifying urgent infrastructure needs. o Eligibility: Non-entitlement cities under 50,000 in population and non-entitlement counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from HUD may apply for funding through any of the Texas CDBG programs. o Limitations: $50,000-350,000, official disaster status declaration o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/DisasterRelief.aspx
Colonia Funds (Rural)- Colonia Planning Fund o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture o Purpose: These funds are available to eligible county applicants for projects in severely distressed unincorporated areas. Assistance for the completion of planning activities to prepare colonia areas for water, sewer and housing improvements. o Eligibility: The term “colonia” means any identifiable unincorporated community that is within 150 miles of the border between the United States and Mexico, except that the term does not include any standard metropolitan statistical area that has a population exceeding 1,000,000. o Limitations: max award $100,000 o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/ColoniaFunds.aspx
Colonia Funds (Rural)- Colonia Construction Fund o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o Purpose: These funds are available to eligible county applicants for projects in severely distressed unincorporated areas. Assistance to fund water and wastewater improvements, housing rehabilitation, and other improvements in colonia areas. o Eligibility: The term “colonia” means any identifiable unincorporated community that is within 150 miles of the border between the United States and Mexico, except that the term does not include any standard metropolitan statistical area that has a population exceeding 1,000,000. o Limitations: max award $1,000,000; o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/ColoniaFunds.aspx
Colonia Funds (Rural)- Colonia Economically Distressed Areas Program o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture o Purpose: These funds are available to eligible county applicants for projects in severely distressed unincorporated areas. Assistance to colonia areas to connect to a water and sewer system project funded by other state and federal funds. o Eligibility: The term “colonia” means any identifiable unincorporated community that is within 150 miles of the border between the United States and Mexico, except that the term does not include any standard metropolitan statistical area that has a population exceeding 1,000,000. o Limitations: max award $1,000,000 o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/ColoniaFunds.aspx
Community Development Fund (Rural) o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture o Purpose: Grants to rural Texas cities and counties for basic infrastructure projects such as water/wastewater facilities, street improvements and drainage. o Eligibility: non-entitlement cities and counties whose populations are less than 50,000 and 200,000 respectively, and are not participating or designated as eligible to participate in the entitlement portion of the federal Community Development Block Grant Program. o Limitations: $275,000-800,000, biennial basis and competition against 24 planning regions in the state. o More information: http://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/Rur alCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/CommunityDevelopment.aspx
Fire, Ambulance, and Service Truck (FAST) Fund o Grantor: Texas Department of Agriculture o Purpose: Provides funds for eligible vehicles to provide emergency response and special services to LMI rural communities. o Funding Limitation: $500,000
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o More information: https://www.texasagriculture.gov/GrantsServices/RuralEconomicDevelopment/R uralCommunityDevelopmentBlockGrant(CDBG)/CDBGResources/Applications/ FASTFund.aspx
State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: This program helps communities to develop cost-effective water supplies by providing low-interest loans, extended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments, and incremental repurchase terms. o Eligibility: Any political subdivision or nonprofit water supply corporation with a project included in the most recently adopted state water plan. o Funding limitations: Financial support is in the form of variety of loans and is available twice a year. A priority rating process applies. Grants are not available. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/SWIFT/index.asp
Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: This program provides low-interest loans that can be used for planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater recycling and reuse facilities, collection systems, storm water pollution control, nonpoint source pollution control, and estuary management projects. o Eligibility: The program is open to a range of borrowers including municipalities, communities of all sizes, farmers, homeowners, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Project eligibility varies according to each state's program and priorities. Loans for wastewater treatment plant projects are only given to political subdivisions with the authority to own and operate a wastewater system. o Funding limitations: The program offers fixed and variable rate loans at subsidized interest rates. The maximum repayment period for a CWSRF loan is 30 years from the completion of project construction. Mainstream funds offer a net long-term fixed interest rate of 1.30% below market rate for equivalency loans (project adheres to federal requirements) and 0.95% for non-equivalency (project adheres to state requirements) loans. Disadvantaged community funds may be offered to eligible communities with principal forgiveness of 30%, 50%, or 70% based upon the adjusted annual median household income and the household cost factor. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/CWSRF/
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: Provides low-cost financial assistance for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water infrastructure.
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o Eligibility: Publicly and privately owned community water systems, including nonprofit water supply corporations and nonprofit, non-community public water systems. Both below market interest rate loans and loan forgiveness (similar to grants) is offered. o Limitations: Loan - additional subsidies available for disadvantaged communities, green projects, very small systems, and urgent need situations. 2.15% Loan origination fee. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/DWSRF/index.asp
Texas Water Development Fund (DFund) o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: This program enables the TWDB to fund projects with multiple purposes (e.g., water and wastewater) in one loan. o Eligibility: Political subdivisions (cities, counties, districts, and river authorities) and nonprofit water supply corporations. o Funding limitations: Loans offered. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/TWDF/index.asp
Economically Distressed Areas Program o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: This program provides financial assistance for water and wastewater services in economically distressed areas where present facilities are inadequate to meet residents’ minimal needs. The program also includes measures to prevent future substandard development. o Eligibility: Projects must be located in an area that was established as a residential subdivision as of June 1, 2005, median household income less than 75% of the median state household income, has an inadequate water supply or sewer services to meet minimal residential needs and a lack of financial resources to provide water supply or sewer services to satisfy those needs. All political subdivisions, including cities, counties, water districts, and nonprofit water supply corporations, are eligible to apply for funds. The applicant, or its designee, must be capable of maintaining and operating the completed system. o Funding limitations: Financial support is in the form of grant or combination of a grant and a loan. The program does not fund ongoing operation and maintenance expenses, nor does it fund new development. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/EDAP/
Rural Water Assistance Fund (RWAF) o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB)
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
o Purpose: To assist small rural utilities to obtain low-cost financing for water and wastewater projects. The program also offers tax-exempt equivalent interest rate loans with long-term finance options. o Eligibility: “rural political subdivisions”- nonprofit water supply corporations, districts, municipalities serving a population of 10,000 or less, and counties in which no urban area has a population exceeding 50,000. o Funding limitations: Only loans offered. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/RWAF/index.asp
State Participation Program- Regional Water and Wastewater Facilities o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: Provides funding and assume a temporary ownership interest in a regional water, wastewater, or flood control project when the local sponsors are unable to assume debt for an optimally sized facility. Allows for the "right sizing" of projects in consideration of future needs. o Eligibility: Political subdivision of the state, including a water supply corporation, that can sponsor construction of a regional water or wastewater project o Funding limitations: Loans offered. The State Participation program has no available funding until appropriations are received from the Legislature. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/SPP/index.asp
Agricultural Water Conservation Grant and Loan Programs o Grantor: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) o Purpose: Provides financial assistance for agricultural water conservation projects in Texas. o Eligibility: State agencies, Political Subdivisions. o Funding limitations: up to $600,000 annually; Low-interest loans with fixed interest rates, up to 10 year repayment terms. o More information: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/financial/programs/AWCL/index.asp
Community Disaster Loan (CDL) Program o Grantor: FEMA o Purpose: Provides operational funding to help local governments that have incurred a significant loss in revenue, due to major disaster. o Eligibility: Local Governments o Funding limitations: max loan of $5,000,000 o More information: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/policy-guidance-fact- sheets/community-disaster-loan-program
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Economic Disaster Resiliency Plan | Brazos Valley Council of Governments
Public Assistance Grant Program o Grantor: FEMA o Purpose: to support communities’ recovery from major disasters by providing them with grant assistance for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure. o Eligibility: Local Governments, states, tribes, territories and certain private nonprofit organization o Limitations: The federal share of assistance is not less than 75 percent of the eligible cost. The Recipient determines how the non-federal share (up to 25 percent) is split with the sub-recipients (i.e. eligible applicants). o More information: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program o Grantor: FEMA o Purpose: provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a Major Disaster Declaration. o Eligibility: state, territorial, and local governments, Federally-recognized tribes or tribal organizations, and certain nonprofit organizations. Individual homeowners and businesses may not apply directly to the program; however, a community may apply on their behalf. o More information: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation
Individual Assistance Grant Program o Grantor: FEMA o Purpose: Housing Assistance (including Temporary Housing, Repair, Replacement, and Semi-Permanent or Permanent Housing Construction) o Eligibility: Homeowners and renters o More information: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual
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