Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday he will give $20,000 grants to businesses and groups negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but only in the travel and tourism sector.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism today announced the opening of applications for the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR). The money is coming from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. That means $180 million in federal funds earmarked for travel.
"Travel and tourism is a critical component to both the state and local economies," Gov. Abbott said. "Visitor spending at Texas destinations brings new money into communities and spurs local job creation across industries in every region of the state. After a decade of record expansion where 1 in 10 Texas jobs were supported by tourism, the travel industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic. While direct travel spending in Texas is recovering at a faster rate than national averages, allocating these grant funds paves the way for a more prosperous, brighter future for all Texas communities."
The Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism will host a series of webinars for specific industry groups to provide more information and answer questions on the application process and the TTIR program:
- Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries, Travel Arrangement & Reservation Services, Convention & Trade Show Organizers, and RV Parks & Recreational Camps Webinar – Tuesday, July 12, 1-2 p.m.
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Webinar – Thursday, July 21, 1-2 p.m.
- Traveler Accommodation Webinar – Thursday, August 11, 1-2 p.m.
- Food Services and Drinking Places Webinar – Thursday, Sept. 1, 1-2 p.m.
To register for the webinars and eligibility and grant application details, deadlines, and more, visit: https://ttir.gov.texas.gov
