A guide to flood recovery funding for Kerr County small businesses

As business owners across Kerr County begin assessing flood damage, several funding sources have opened or expanded in the past two days, giving entrepreneurs multiple paths to recovery money even as the largest potential source — federal disaster aid — remains pending presidential approval.

Report your damage first

Before applying anywhere else, business owners should report their flood damage through the state’s two official channels: damage.tdem.texas.gov, the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT reporting system (available in English and Spanish), and Disaster.Texas.Gov, the state’s broader disaster resource site. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office pointed Texans to both Friday. This data feeds the preliminary damage assessments state and federal officials use to determine whether — and how quickly — federal aid programs like SBA loans get approved for the region.

LiftFund: grants up to $10,000, applications open now

LiftFund launched its 2026 Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Program Friday, offering grants — not loans — of up to $10,000 to small businesses and nonprofits affected by this week’s flooding.

“Our hearts are with the Texas small businesses that are facing yet another tragic disaster,” said Amy Hereford, LiftFund’s president and CEO. “When disasters strike, they need trusted partners who can respond in a matter of days to sustain the business and its employees. Our team is prepared to help business owners stabilize, recover, and continue serving the communities that depend on them.”

Funding can be used for rebuilding and repair expenses, replacing lost or damaged equipment, and general business operating expenses. To qualify, a business or nonprofit must:

• Have been operating on or before July 1, 2025
• Be located in one of 16 eligible counties: Bandera, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Llano, Mason, Medina, Menard, Real or Uvalde
• Demonstrate a negative economic impact from the July 2026 flooding

LiftFund said many of the businesses now applying were still recovering from last year’s flood when this week’s storms hit, compounding financial setbacks already in progress. Over the past year, the organization has deployed 525 grants and loans totaling more than $17 million across the Hill Country.

Business owners can apply or check eligibility at liftfund.com/2026-texas-hill-country-flood-relief-program, or by calling 888-215-2373. Those interested in donating to support the program can give at donate.liftfund.com or contact Liliane Spenle at 469-607-0624 to discuss partnership opportunities.

Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation: grants regardless of membership

The Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation has reopened the business recovery grant program it first launched after the 2025 flood. Funds are available now to affected businesses regardless of Chamber membership status, and can be used for building repairs, signage, equipment, inventory, utilities and other recovery expenses. The foundation emphasized the money is a grant, not a loan, and does not need to be repaid.

“The July 16th floods left a profound impact on our community, just one year from the July 4, 2025 floods,” said Pete Calderon, the foundation’s chairman. “Our local businesses — the very heart and soul of Kerrville — have suffered significant damage and loss. This fund is our way of stepping up to support them during this critical time.”

Business owners can apply or donate at kerrvillechamber.biz/foundation.

Federal aid: requested, not yet available

Gov. Greg Abbott formally requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration Friday covering 28 counties, including Kerr County. If approved by President Trump, it would open SBA disaster loans of up to $2 million for business physical damage, plus Economic Injury Disaster Loans for working capital — but neither program is active yet, and there’s no firm timeline for approval.

Other active resources

• Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country: launched a new, regional Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Fund this week, separate from and not commingled with the Kerr County-specific fund from 2025. Foundation officials said they’re monitoring a business damage inventory being conducted by Kerr Together and Global Empowerment Mission, and are also partnering directly with LiftFund. Donate at cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com.
• PeopleFund: business financial assistance available through Drexel King, Drexel.King@PeopleFund.org.
• Kerr Together: the county’s established recovery coordinating body, 98 Coronado Dr. N., Kerrville, (830) 315-1002, kerrtogether.com.

Keep records now

Business owners pursuing any of these programs — especially if federal aid becomes available — should start documenting losses immediately: photograph damage before cleanup begins where possible, save every receipt for repairs and supplies, and keep a written log of anything discarded before it could be photographed. Tracking volunteer labor hours used in cleanup may also count toward documentation requirements for some funding sources.