LiftFund Launches $10K Grants for Hill Country Flood-Hit Small Businesses

The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, recently featured Amy Hereford, President and CEO of LiftFund, to discuss the launch of the 2026 Texas Hill Country Flood Relief Program. This initiative provides grants up to $10,000 to small businesses and nonprofits across 16 counties, including Bandera, Blanco, Kerr, Kendall, Hays, Comal, Uvalde, and Gillespie. The program arrives as the region recovers from a second major flood in as many years, with LiftFund having already deployed 525 grants and loans totaling more than $17 million to Hill Country businesses in the past year.

Hereford emphasized the urgency of supporting small businesses after a disaster, citing LiftFund's data from over 50 disaster recovery efforts. "The faster you help a small business, the faster you secure the entire recovery of the community," she said. "In many communities, especially in rural areas, those small businesses are going to be the majority employers." She noted that most small businesses carry only about 10 days of cash on hand, and SBA relief often arrives after payroll cycles and mortgage payments have already come due.

The ripple effects of a shuttered Main Street are significant. An average small business employs roughly four people, each supporting families of about four, and is often linked to 20 other businesses through local supply chains. Hereford referenced Trinity University economist Dr. Butler, who has publicly endorsed LiftFund's work and named the organization in his planned giving. The episode also highlighted San Antonio's Alamo Kitchens as a case study, where one commercial-kitchen loan can seed dozens of downstream food entrepreneurs.

LiftFund, a 30-year-old San Antonio nonprofit, fills the gap when traditional banks decline early-stage founders, veterans, and creative entrepreneurs. The new program offers zero-interest loans made possible when cities, counties, and private donors buy down the rate. Free technical assistance and a capital readiness questionnaire are available at LiftFund.com.

Hereford also warned about predatory lenders and title-loan storefronts targeting cash-strapped founders. "We want to make sure that small business owners have a safe alternative," she said. The program also covers second-chance founders, rural daycares, and gap financing for hospitals where banks stop at 80 percent.

The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, profiles the founders, funders, and civic builders shaping the Texas economy. This episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard, and at buildingtexasshow.com.