#United States #San Antonio #Small Business #Disaster Recovery #LiftFund

LiftFund Launches National Small Business Disaster Resilience Fund

In an era where natural disasters are escalating in frequency and severity across the United States, the urgent need for effective recovery mechanisms is more critical than ever. Recognizing this need, LiftFund has unveiled its National Small Business Disaster Resilience Fund—a progressive initiative designed to help small businesses regain their footing promptly following catastrophic events.

Disruptions caused by disasters can impose immediate financial stress on small enterprises, and industry statistics highlight that in 2024 alone, a staggering 27 disasters dealt blow after blow, each inflicting damages exceeding $1 billion. This alarming trend emphasizes the vulnerability of small businesses which often face immediate bills for payroll, rent, utilities, and other obligations right after the disaster strikes. Unfortunately, traditional recovery aid frequently arrives only weeks or even months later, which can lead to irreversible closures.

The Urgent Need for Quick Response

Amy Hereford, President and CEO of LiftFund, articulated the seriousness of this issue. "Small business recovery is community recovery. When businesses close after a disaster, communities lose jobs, services, stability, and their identity." The primary goal of the Disaster Resilience Fund is to create recovery systems that respond swiftly to avert permanent damage and loss.

The introduction of this fund was marked during a significant meeting known as The Business of Rebuilding, which was held in Kerrville, Texas. The event gathered essential stakeholders from various sectors, including business, government, and community organizations, highlighting the pressing need for quicker and more cohesive small business recovery systems.

In July 2025, Kerrville and its surrounding areas suffered catastrophic flooding resulting in estimated damages ranging from $18 billion to $22 billion. Following this disaster, LiftFund acted decisively by disbursing $14 million through grants and zero-interest loans to local businesses, enabling them to maintain operations and retain staff during a critical recovery phase.

"Emergency funding arrived quickly, allowing many businesses to reopen sooner and retain their workforce," Hereford noted. Statistics suggest that up to 40% of small businesses may permanently close without immediate financial support within two weeks of a disaster.

A Proactive Recovery Infrastructure

The design of this Fund aims to establish a robust recovery infrastructure that springs into action immediately following a disaster. It facilitates the provision of stabilization grants and urgent capital within days—alongside support for longer-term rebuilding efforts through flexible financing options aimed at enhancing resilience.

LiftFund intends for this initiative to work in tandem with existing systems like FEMA and SBA disaster loans, offering swift community-focused assistance via trusted local partners. The organization boasts three decades of experience in disaster recovery, successfully aiding over 12,000 small businesses across the nation with disbursements exceeding $230 million, thus supporting about 50,000 jobs in regions stretching from Houston to Los Angeles.

Wes Virdell, Texas State Representative, noted the potential for Texas to set a precedent in terms of disaster recovery for small businesses. He remarks, “Recovery encompasses more than just rebuilding infrastructure. It's about ensuring that local businesses can operate again and that their employees remain gainfully employed.”

A Vision for the Future

During the aforementioned convening, economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas presented data reinforcing the necessity for agile recovery frameworks tailored specifically to the realities faced by small enterprises post-disaster.

LiftFund's long-term vision is to engineer a scalable national model that effectively responds to emergencies, supporting economic stability, and alleviating the prolonged ripple effects disasters inflict on community jobs, housing, healthcare access, and overall economic recovery.

As Hereford succinctly put it, “We already know what works; now we must construct systems that can adapt at the speed recovery demands.”

For more information regarding the Small Business Disaster Resilience Fund and its application process, you can visit LiftFund's official website.

About LiftFund

LiftFund is a nonprofit community funder committed to offering small business loans, disaster recovery financing, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs throughout the United States. With over 30 years in the field, LiftFund has a proven dedication to deploying capital responsibly and effectively as part of recovery-focused lending initiatives. In 2025, the organization was recognized with the Outstanding Community Development Financial Institution Award, acknowledging its crucial role in supporting community economic recovery following disasters and economic shocks.