Lifting Up Small Business Grant Program

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Optimum and Optimum Business in support of the Lifting Up Small Businesses grant opportunity. This program is designed to strengthen and empower the local small business community. Together, our organizations share a commitment to fostering economic growth, expanding access to critical resources, and ensuring that small businesses, the backbone of our local economy, have the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Participation in the Program constitutes Applicants’ full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and to the Administrator’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Program. Being selected for the Program is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth in the Official Rules. These rules are subject to change at the sole discretion of the Administrator.

Through this partnership, the Lifting Up Small Business grant program will award up to 25 small businesses, in the Georgetown community, $5,000 grants. Applications will open on October 5, 2026, and must be submitted by November 2 by 11:59 PM CST. All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and businesses will be notified in December of 2026. It is a requirement that all applicants read the Official Rules and have a brick-and-mortar location in the zip codes listed prior to submitting the application. Eligible zip codes are: 78626, 78628, 78633, 78641, 78642, 78660.

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce membership or status as an Optimum Business customer will not be considered in the evaluation of the application. If your business has previously received the Lifting Up Small Business Grant, the business is not eligible.

ELIGIBILITY: For purposes of this program, an eligible “Applicant” is one of the following business entities defined by the State of Texas:

• A Business Corporation
• A Not-for-Profit Corporation
• A Limited Liability Company
• A General Partnership
• A Limited Partnership
• A Sole Proprietorship

All Applicants must designate a “Primary Contact.”

• The Primary Contact must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application.
• The Primary Contact owns at least 51% or more (or is the largest equity owner) of the business entity. If there are two 50% owners, one owner must be selected as the Primary Contact and the other 50% owner should be listed as a Secondary Contact.
• The Primary Contact must be duly authorized to submit an application on behalf of the company and represents and warrants that they are authorized to act on behalf of the Applicant and have read the Official Rules and agrees to abide by these Official Rules.

The Applicant must have fewer than 25 full-time employees and agree to a background check. By submitting an application, the Applicant acknowledges that they are in good standing with all federal, state, and local laws and taxing jurisdictions. No purchase or payment is necessary. Void where prohibited. Grant funds may not be used to pay past or existing debt. Funding must be used solely for business expansion and growth-related activities.

The Administrator reserves the right to change the amount of the individual grants to be allocated at any time. The prizes will be distributed via check made out to the business.

By entering, Applicants agree that photographs, whether still or action, videos, film and/or motion pictures and/or audio recordings may be taken of them by or on behalf of the Administrator, and, without any compensation or further notification or approval by the Applicants, grant to the Administrator and its agents, employees, and others working on its behalf, the unlimited, perpetual, worldwide, unconditional and irrevocable right and license to use, distribute, publish, exhibit, digitize, broadcast, display, reproduce, make commercial use of and otherwise use directly or indirectly the pictures, recordings and their image, voice, likeness and/or video footage in any form, format or media for any purpose, including but not limited to advertising or trade 6 and agree that all rights therein shall irrevocably, exclusively, unconditionally and perpetually belong to the Administrator.

This joint effort reflects our shared belief that when small businesses succeed, the entire community prospers. We are honored to support this initiative and look forward to helping local businesses reach their full potential.