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COVID-19 assistance programs help residents, businesses, nonprofits

January 19,2021

See full City of Fort Worth article here.

To assist those affected economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Fort Worth administered several programs over the last nine months. At year-end closeout of those programs, here is where disbursements stood:

Preserve the Fort
The first round of Preserve the Fort grants opened in May, with the goal of helping Fort Worth’s small businesses (fewer than 500 employees), minority-owned businesses and businesses located in the city’s target reinvestment zones. The second round of grant funding in September saw the city shift its focus to provide additional support for local industries hit hardest by the pandemic, including bars/music venues, restaurants and performing arts nonprofits.

Approved Preserve the Fort grants included:

  • 481 to citywide small businesses totaling $19,254,891
  • 364 to target-area small businesses totaling $17,011,387
  • 756 to minority-owned small businesses totaling $17,494,264
  • 12 to performing arts nonprofits totaling $988,678
  • 27 nonprofit reimbursements totaling $227,439
  • Total assistance in 2020 was $54,976,659 for 1,640 businesses. The Economic Development Department administered the Preserve the Fort assistance program.

Fort Worth CARES
The initial amount for the Fort Worth CARES Household Assistance Program, administered by the Neighborhood Services Department, was $2.6 million. That was increased to $3 million on Dec. 9, 2020, in response to need, and further increased to $3.7 million on Jan. 6, 2021.

As of the end of 2020, $3,301,199 had been distributed to COVID-affected Fort Worth residents for household expenses.

Non-Governmental Organization Assistance Program
The program, administered by the Neighborhood Services Department, has distributed $5,994,000 to 45 nonprofit organizations in these service areas:

  • Educational assistance, $1,632,524
  • Financial assistance, $663,774
  • Health and wellness, $1,625,943
  • Housing services, $413,450
  • Nutritional services, $1,258,309