"Description:"
"Texas Enterprise Fund: Administered by the Texas Economic Development Bank, this grant program provides funding to projects that realize a significant rate of return of the public dollars being used for economic development in Texas. Capital investment, job creation, wages generated, financial strength of the applicant, applicant's business history, analysis of the relevant business sector, and federal and local government and private sector financial support of a project must be significant factors in approving the use of the Enterprise Fund. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House must unanimously agree to support the use of the Texas Enterprise Fund for each specific project. A general funding formula amount is $4,000 per job created. In the Katy Area, eligible projects must create at least 100 jobs over a three year period."
"Texas Emerging Technology Program: This program seeks to expedite the development and commercialization of new technologies and attracting and creating jobs in technology fields. It works through partnerships between the state, institutions of higher education and private industry to focus greater attention on the research, development and commercialization of emerging technology and is dedicated to three areas: (1) Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (RCICs). These centers will become concentrated with applied R&D activities, be incubators (including specialized workforce training) for startup firms and encourage expansion of existing companies resulting from commercializing their developments. (2) Matching grant funds. Applied technology research and development projects that accelerate commercialization into production and have a demonstrated ability to receive or have received federal grants or non-state grants may apply for matching dollars from the Emerging Technology Fund. These grants include Small Business Innovation Research grants, Small business technology Transfer grants, etc. (3) Attracting research talent. The state will help Texas public universities attract highly renowned research teams from universities and institutions in other states."
"Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program: This is a Texas Department of Agriculture program and economic development tool designed to provide financial resources to non-entitlement communities. Funds from this program can be utilized for public infrastructure (water, sewer, natural gas, electricity, roads, etc.) needed to assist a business, which commits to create and/or retain permanent jobs, primarily for low and moderate-income persons. The minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum is $1,000,000. The award may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost."
"Texas Rural Municipal Finance Program: This program is within the Texas Department of Agriculture This loan program is designed for eligible applicants located within rural areas of the state that provide significant benefits for the rural area, and provide evidence of ability to repay the commitments. Applicants can include: city and county governments; economic development corporations; hospital districts; rail districts; utility districts; special districts; agricultural districts; and private water and wastewater corporations. Loan amounts range from $50,000 to an amount approved by TAFA’s board of directors, but target projects for less than $1,000,000. Loans may be used for real estate purchase, building construction, site improvements, equipment, water and wastewater systems."
"Municipal Utility Districts: Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) may help finance the cost of water, wastewater, drainage and detention required for development, usually (but not necessarily) in unincorporated areas. MUDs have the power to levy an ad valorem tax to repay developers for the provisions of needed services plus the operation and maintenance of district facilities. MUDs may reimburse developers from between 70% to 100% for water, sewer, drainage and detention costs, as well as associated financing costs. Some MUDs have road construction powers as well. MUDs have also recently been given broader powers to provide such additional services as garbage collection, security, and parks construction."
"“4A” and “4B” Sales Tax – City of Fulshear: The “4A” and “4B” sales tax is an economic development sales tax that has been approved by voters in more than 450 communities across Texas. The tax revenues are in two forms, the original “4A” tax and the more flexible “4B” tax, are used to finance economic development programs and incentive that create primary (or direct) jobs. The City of Fulshear has 4A and 4B corporations."
"Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG): This is a job creation grant program designed to assist adversely impacted defense communities that are responding to or recovering from the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action, or reductions or termination of defense contracts. The program was expanded to assist defense communities that have been positively affected by BRAC with new or expanded military missions, as well as qualified job retention. DEAAG funding is available to local municipalities, counties, defense base development authority, junior college districts and Texas State Technical College campuses, and regional planning commissions representing these communities. Funding is available to meet matching requirements for federal funding or for the purchase of Department of Defense property, new construction, rehabilitation of facilities or infrastructure, or purchase of capital equipment or insurance. Grants awarded may range from $50,000 to $2 million per project."
"Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program: In 2007, the 81st Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 1634 establishing the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. Under the legislation, grants to promote industry growth in Texas can be made to applicant production companies. The incentive is available in the form of a production grant equal to 5% of in-state spending, including wages paid to Texas residents. Grants are available upon project completion to features, television programs, television commercials and video games. Both live action and animated projects are eligible. The maximum grant amounts available after September 1, 2007 are: $2 million for features; $2.5 million for television programs (for episodic series, $2.5 million per season); $200,000 for a commercial, series of commercials or music videos; and $250,000 for video games."
"CenterPoint Energy-Commercial and Industrial Standard Offer Program (C&I SOP): The C&I Standard Offer Program may pay Project Sponsors incentives based on the savings in peak demand and in energy that their projects achieve. Demand savings incentives are paid for the maximum one-hour average demand reduction that occurs when the newly installed system is operating at peak conditions during the summer period. The amount of the rebate is as follows: $175 per kW reduction and $0.060 per kWh saved."
"CenterPoint Energy-Load Management Program: CenterPoint Energy may pay a participating Customer (or the Project Sponsor, if different) up to $40 per kW of verified curtailed load each year of participation. For example, a Project Sponsor which contracts for 1,000 kW and consistently curtails 1,000 kW or more when asked would earn up to $40,000 each year. The program was developed to pay incentives to participating Project Sponsors (customers and/or energy service companies) for curtailment of electric consumption on short notice during peak demand periods. Incentives are based on verified demand savings that occur at CenterPoint Energy distribution or eligible institutional customer's site as a result of an interruption."
"Cancer Prevention and Research General Obligation Bonds: This program allows the State of Texas to establish the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (the Institute) and allows the Institute to issue $3 billion in general obligation bonds over ten years to fund grants for cancer research and prevention. The Institute may invest the grants strategically in cancer research, clinical trials, and laboratory facility construction in Texas. The Institute will continue to implement the Texas Cancer Plan. For more information regarding grant opportunities, please visit the Institute’s website at www.cprit.state.tx.us."
"Texas Skills Development Fund: The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the Skills Development Fund program, which provides state funds to directly respond to the workforce needs of Texas employers. Grants are made to public community and technical colleges, The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX); or a 501(c)3 Community Based Organizations (CBOs), only in partnership with the eligible organizations noted above. Grants are limited to $1,250 per employee on a 12 month contract basis. Single business grants are limited to a maximum grant amount of $500,000. Funds can be used for job retention (60%) and job creation (40%) for projects that: (a) demonstrate wages at or above the prevailing wage, (b) have active collaboration between community organizations and the Company, (c) have a high degree of customization in a state or local industry cluster, (d) involve high growth/high demand occupations, (e) exhibit funding contributions from area partners, and (f) show a positive economic impact. Costs covered include tuition, curriculum development, instructor fees, and training materials. In some cases funds can be used for adult education and literacy. SDF funds cannot be used to induce movement from one location in Texas to another."
"On-The Job Training (OJT): This program for the dislocated worker that is experiencing prolonged unemployment (18 weeks or more). Participants will be given a chance to “earn and learn” by developing occupational skills while earning a paycheck. OJT positions must be: full time (30 hours/week) or more permanent position; non-contracted/1099; position of high skill & high growth determined by TWC; training may be up to 6 months in duration; and the candidate selected must be a dislocated worker; or laid off or received lay off notice; or a displaced homemaker, etc. Employer reimbursement is based on the employer’s company size: 50 or fewer = 90 % of employee’s hourly wage; 51-250 = 75% of employee’s hourly wage: more than 250 = 50 % of employee’s hourly wage. Some important points to note: employers determine the training and skills to be learned. A training plan must be in place before a candidate begins work. An employer agreement must be in place before hiring candidates and the employer must be in the private sector."
"Texas Self Sufficiency Fund: This program is a job-training program that is specifically designed for individuals that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program links the business community with local educational institutions and is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission. The goal of the Fund is to assist TANF recipients become independent of government financial assistance. The Fund makes grants available to eligible public colleges or to eligible private, non-profit organizations to provide customized job training and training support services for specific employers. A joint application from the employer and the eligible public college and/or eligible private, non-profit organization is required to be submitted to the Local Workforce Development Board for review and comment prior to approval."
"Texas Back To Work Program: Texas employers can receive monetary incentives for hiring unemployed workers under a two-year, program promoted by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and funded by the Legislature last session. Administered by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Texas Back to Work offers employers a wage subsidy of up to $2,000.00 for hiring qualified out-of-work Texans. The program helps people get back to work by helping employers defray part of the cost of wages and “On-the-Job” training."
"Small Business Skills Program: Through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Skills for Small Business program, up to $2 million from the Skills Development Fund. Small businesses can apply to TWC for training offered by their local community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). TWC processes the applications and works with the college to fund the specific courses selected by businesses for their employees.. It supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and emphasizes training for new workers. It has the additional ability to upgrade the skills of incumbent works. The program emphasizes training newly hired employees - those who have been hired by the company up to three months prior to the date that TWC receives an application. It• It funds tuition and fees up to $1,450 per newly hired employee and up to $725 per incumbent employee. An individual employee can participate once per 12-month period. • Funding for training is for full-time employees. All training must be provided by a public community or technical college, or the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). No third-party vendor training is allowed. Training must be selected from active course catalogs/schedules - credit, continuing education, on-line or other available unpublished courses. Employers must pay the prevailing wages in the local labor market for the trainees funded under the grant."