More pandemic grant money is available for small business owners in College Station. Without discussion, the College Station city council at its last meeting moved another $411,000 dollars in federal CARES Act money. This will go towards retaining jobs for low to moderate income employees working at small businesses. The money was originally designated for rental assistance. But the council was told that’s being covered in a partnership with Brazos County and the U.S. Treasury.
The council also approved adding $280,000 dollars to fund minor home repairs and another $267,000 in a separate owner-occupied rehabilitation program where low income homeowners to apply for a loan of up to $50,000 dollars.
The council also approved without discussion, raising the maximum amount of grant money available for low income College Station homeowners who live in those homes towards what is described as minor repairs. The ceiling was raised from $7,500 dollars to an unspecified amount. The community development director can now determine the maximum, based on making repairs which “achieves the objectives of the program”.
The federal grant money can be spent on health and safety issues that includes repairing broken water, sewer and gas lines, replace water heaters and air conditioning and heating systems, and addressing electrical system failures. Grant money can also go towards structural and exterior repairs that includes roofs and gutters.