San Angelo board OKs $1 million business repair pool; Chamber reports manufacturers hit

The City of San Angelo Development Corporation voted to establish a $1,000,000 pool to assist businesses damaged in the July 4, 2025 flood. The pool is intended to accelerate recovery for affected employers and was approved by voice vote; staff said contracts for specific awards will come before the board for approval.

Michael Looney, vice president of economic development for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, described the Chamber's immediate outreach: the team contacted 41 manufacturers, of which three experienced "catastrophic" flooding and two had major damage to fabrication equipment. Looney said two heavily impacted firms were near low-water crossings and one company, Permian Radiator, saw up to four feet of water in its facility.

Looney said the Chamber is coordinating with federal and nonprofit partners including the Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, the SBA, Samaritan's Purse, Team Rubicon and Billy Graham Ministries to provide stabilization and in-kind equipment. "Those companies that were not impacted and could help have been helping by supplying equipment, which has been very useful," he said.

Staff explained the pool is being established to start the statutory 60-day publication period for this type of project; once the period closes and specific contract terms are approved, funds could be disbursed more quickly than otherwise allowed. The board and staff plan weekly coordination meetings with the Chamber and partners to identify eligible projects and expedite contracting. The resolution passed by voice vote with no public opposition recorded.