Economic Recovery Resources - Weekly Update
The Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Gulf Coast Economic Development District stand ready to assist the 13-county region in pursuing strategies to restore local economies. We will be issuing this Economic Recovery Resources - Weekly Update to help our local partners stay on top of new funding opportunities. Subscribers to the monthly Regional Economic Development Digest will receive the weekly update automatically. We hope to make it easier for you to secure the resources you need to recover quickly.

Please e-mail Josh Owens or call 832-681-2613 to discuss economic recovery needs you may have.
Gov. Abbott Establishes Face Covering Requirement, Issues Proclamation to Limit Gatherings
On July 2, Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order requiring all Texans to wear a face covering, over the nose and mouth, in businesses and public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases. The order applies to all 13 counties in the H-GAC region. The Governor also issued a proclamation prohibiting outdoor gatherings larger than 10 people.

Small Business Development Centers Open for No-Cost Business Advising Services 
Throughout their network, University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are open and available to assist small businesses impacted by COVID-19. SBDCs provide business advising, access to training, tools, and resources to help small businesses start, grow,
 expand and succeed. LoneStar College Small Business
 Development Center has announced its opening. To take advantage of their services-call 832-813-6674, email [email protected], or go directly to their online registration form.

Business & Industry CARES Act Program Webinars Available to View 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) held two webinars to provide an overview of the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee CARES Act Program requirements. The program offers loan guarantees to rural business lenders, supplementing their working capital to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the economic impacts of the coronavirus. Recordings are available: Webinar for Rural Business Lenders and Webinar For Businesses and Producers.

Economic Development Administration CARES Act Funding 
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) continues to accept applications for CARES Act supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Funds are available through the 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO, see page 46). The Gulf Coast Economic Development District will provide technical assistance to applicants. E-mail Josh Owens with any questions.

Federal Funding For Rural Communities 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.  Current USDA funding opportunities:
Upcoming Economic Recovery Webinars 

July 8 | Access to Capital and Community Facilities | Council of Development Finance Agencies
Part of the Council of Development Finance Agencies-Alliance for Rural Impact Rural Finance Webinar Series, presenters will discuss community facilities resources and other accessible capital for rural community development. Access to healthcare services is critical for communities of all sizes, and COVID-19 has shown us just how great the need for these and other community facilities is in much of rural America. Although community facilities are challenging to finance, there are a variety of capital and investment sources for these projects available.

July 9 | What Worries Your Municipal Advisor | Council of Development Finance Agencies
If you could attend one of their staff meetings, you might hear municipal advisors debating about market stability, smartest choices for reinvesting bond proceeds, evaluating strength of the local tax base, how many different financing tools can you leverage into one deal. What should issuers, underwriters, and advisors know about working with their team of professionals to complete a bond deal during times of crisis? This interview style discussion will feature a round robin of advisors divulging the capital markets trends they're following and offer some best practices on how to deal with them.

July 9 | Resetting the Local Economy after COVID-19 | Institute for Local Government
Learn how to quickly and strategically retool local economies in response to COVID-19 impacts on retail, hotels, tourism, industrial, and residential markets. Understand the evolving shifts in land use and occupancy, identify sectors that will come back first, and learn how to select and implement effective programs that can accomplish recovery in the near term and achieve resiliency over the long term. View other webinars from the Institute for Local Government.

July 9 | Analyzing Employer Demand Data to Support Economic Recovery | National Association of Development Organizations
The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the world economy. In response, Burning Glass Technologies is using its database of more than a billion current and historical job postings to measure the economic shock and how it affects the job market. Staff at Burning Glass will share observations and analyses derived through real-time employer demand data on impacted industries and occupations and discuss factors influencing economic recovery.

July 9 | Preserving Manufacturing in the COVID-19 Economy | Brookings Institute
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the manufacturing sector. In conjunction with the economic downturn, it has altered operations, supply chains, and output. Governance Studies at Brookings will host a webinar on the manufacturing landscape and what lies ahead. Panelists will examine ways to revitalize and renew growth amid the health and economic crisis.

July 13 | Preparing for the Next Wave of Investment: Re-shoring and FDI | International Economic Development Council
Ramifications of supply chain disruption are causing US-based companies to consider re-shoring functions, such as manufacturing and research and development. Foreign companies with a heavy presence in North America will also be considering building new locations to better serve their customers. This webinar will provide guidance from experts in site-selection, re-shoring and FDI, and global business. Attendees will learn about how COVID-19 has changed the practices of re-shoring and FDI and how to position their communities for new investment.

July 21 | Financing Small Business Recovery After COVID-19 | Council of Development Finance Agencies
The nation's small businesses have been facing an unprecedented economic disruption due to the coronavirus. Now more than ever, access to capital for this sector is critical to the survival and rebuilding of the small business ecosystem. This installment of the CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series will be a discussion about the impacts of COVID-19 on access to capital and how finance tools have evolved to meet the growing needs of small businesses as the nation works toward economic recovery.

Partner Resources 
Visit our website for information and links to local, regional, and partner organizations that have additional resources and information on economic recovery. A select list is presented below.
Greater Houston Business Recovery Center
The Greater Houston Partnership has established the Greater Houston Business Recovery Center, which will provide guidance on policy and financing related to recovery programs.
Restore Your Economy
RestoreYourEconomy is your resource for up-to-date information related to COVID-19 and its economic impacts.
Texas Economic Development Council
The Texas Economic Development Council COVID-19 webpage catalogs COVID-19 resources, updated, and links. It includes webinars, small business program examples, research white papers, resources for businesses, Texas Workforce Commission resources, and advice for retailers.
National Association of Development Organizations
The National Association of Development Organizations COVID-19 resource center provides advocacy resources, upcoming virtual events and training, federal agency COVID-19 resources, member response resources, national partner organizations response resources, Office of Management and Budget guidance, state-by-state workforce guidelines, philanthropic resources for communities, and economic resilience resources.
International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council Corona Virus Response webpage provides information on the Council's COVID-19 webinar series, COVID-19 resources, and frequently updated situational reports.

Main Street Forward provides a wide range of free resources for Main Street leaders, including recovery planning tools, research, advocacy efforts, and best practices and examples from around the Main Street Network.
 
Gulf Coast Economic Development District
713-627-3200
[email protected]
The Economic Recovery Resources - Weekly Update is published by the


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