Texas Opens Solicitation for Tourism Industry Recovery Grants

TEXAS – The Texas Office of Economic Development and Tourism announced the opening of applications, beginning July 6, for the Tourism Industry Recovery Grant (TTIR) Program established by Senate Bill 8 and signed into law by the Governor.

The purpose of the program is to administer $180 million from the State’s Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021. The purpose of the TTIR is to provide recovery grants to Texas businesses in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry that were negatively impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“Travel and tourism is a critical component to state and local economies,” said Governor Abbott. “Visitor spending in Texas destinations brings new money into communities and spurs local job creation in every industry, in every region of the state. After a decade of record expansion in which 1 in 10 Texas jobs was supported by tourism, the travel sector was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic.”

According to Governor Abbott, while direct travel spending in Texas is recovering at a faster pace than national averages, the allocation of the grant funds paves the way for a brighter and more prosperous future for Texas communities. 

The TTIR program will support the Texas tourism, travel and hospitality industry by making grant funds available to businesses negatively impacted by Covid-19.

Applicants in the following sectors such as arts, entertainment and recreation; food services and drinking places; travel lodging; RV parks and recreational campgrounds; travel arranging and booking services; convention and trade show organizers; breweries; wineries and distilleries, are eligible for a one-time grant of up to $20,000:

Application to the program requires all applicants to submit supporting documents with their request to demonstrate compliance with grant and eligibility requirements.