Small-Business Rebuild: the Gap, the Pipeline, the Plan

Kerr County’s small businesses are pushing through a hard season to finalize grants, stand up a “one-stop shop” at 98 Coronado, and launch a Support Local push. Meanwhile outside funders weigh case-management and warehouse support. The need is real: grant options are thin, financing is expensive, and business may stay soft into summer 2026 without action.

The Business Recovery Working Group (BRWG) laid out the facts: many firms still face capital gaps. There’s also a lack of business-recovery grants and low or no-interest financing. Leaders expect lower revenue into Summer 2026 if nothing changes. That’s the operating reality they need to address.

The data picture is sobering. Post-flood canvassing identified 262 businesses that were directly or indirectly affected by the floods. Among them, 74 self-reported physical damage. Follow-up shows that for directly impacted businesses, 50% remained in active recovery as November and still need financial support. Risk modeling suggests 41–56 businesses could close permanently without intervention.

Half of directly impacted businesses remain in active recovery and dependent on financial support. 

So what does recovery look like? First, we are funding proposals. The BRWG finalized three items for the Community Foundation: Business Rebuild Support, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) Business Case Management, and a Construction Manager/Volunteer Coordinator. Local businesses submitted proposals in late October 2025.

Second, we are coordinating capacity. Responding to Foundation feedback, the GEM proposal now scopes an 18-month case-management program plus warehouse operations. Capacity means business recovery.  

Third, we are centralizing recovery processes in a physical place, a “One Stop Shop” Long-Term Recovery Center at 98 Coronado. Efforts there will be informed by a new economic impact study. And they are already launching a Support Local campaign to shore up restaurants and retail. That’s practical infrastructure plus demand-side help.

In addition to Kerr Together’s long-term recovery efforts, partners are lining up to fill finance gaps — LiftFund and People Fund among them.  

Buy local to support Kerrville area businesses and families.

By the Numbers 

• 262 Kerr/Kendall businesses with direct and indirect impacts identified.

• 74 with physical damage. Follow-ups show half still in active recovery and needing financial support.

• 41–56 projected permanent closures without intervention (model-based estimate).

• 53 is the local multiplier. This means $100 spent at locally owned businesses will generate an additional $53 in the local economy.