Public Health BIG Grant

woman with mask on at pharmacy counter

About the Grant

The San Marcos City Council allocated $150,000 of American Rescue Plan Act resources to fund property improvements for local businesses to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and support the safety of customers and employees. The City will provide a fifty percent matching grant to reimburse up to $20,000 of well-designed property improvements. The applicant’s match may be in the form of other financial aid, such as a grant or loan received from other agencies for financial institutions, but may not be “in-kind”.

The BIG Grant Program will only reimburse applicants after the project is determined to have been completed in accordance with the contract and the applicant has paid his/her architect, contractor and vendor(s) in full.

Eligible Improvements

Eligible projects will improve ventilation through the following:

  • Increase the introduction of outdoor air inside the building
  • Rebalance or adjust HVAC systems to increase total airflow to occupied spaces
  • Turn off demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours
  • Improve central air filtration
  • Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems
  • Use ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)
  • Provide additional small air handling units and isolate areas
  • Flush out a building, bringing in 100% outside air

Eligible projects will increase hygiene and touchless contact points through the following:

  • Automated entrances
  • Automated taps and soap dispensers
  • Voice or motion-activated technology to control lights, adjust thermostats, and move through checkpoints
  • Installation of antimicrobial building materials or application of nanocoating to wall coverings, flooring, and bathroom fixtures

Eligible projects will reconstruct the layout to allow for additional space between seats in a waiting room/lobby or between tables.

Eligible projects will construct outdoor eating areas to allow for dining in a well-ventilated area with ample spacing between unrelated parties.

Note: Guidelines and best practices for COVID-19 mitigation may be updated after the time these BIG Grant guidelines are published. Businesses may present alternative projects for consideration if they meet the intent of the program. These alternative projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed to be eligible for reimbursement.

Please download the Public Health BIG Grant Guidelines and application here in English or español. 

Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) Grant Application

  2. Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) Grant Application
  17. Business Organization*
  19. Relationship of Applicant to the property to be renovated*
  23. Please provide contact information for the design professional responsible for your drawings, plans, and permits
  38. Acknowledgement Statement

    The undersigned hereby represents and certifies to the best of his/her knowledge and beliefs that the information contained on this statement and any exhibits or attachments hereto are true and complete and accurately describe the proposed project, and the undersigned agrees to promptly inform the City of San Marcos Economic & Business Development Manager of any changes in the proposed project which may occur. The City of San Marcos reserves the right to terminate any agreement under the BIG Grant Program if a participant is found to be in violation of any conditions set forth in these guidelines or if the project has been started prior to an executed agreement with the City of San Marcos.

  42. As applicable: Proof of ownership, Certificate of Occupancy, written permission from building owner, expiration date of lease, etc.

    49. Leave This Blank:

  51. This field is not part of the form submission.