With an added focus on supporting companies that are expanding their resilience capabilities and exploring new ways of doing business, the SEDC recently approved funding for an existing business – Food Related – through its new COVID-19 Retention Grant.
Food Related is a Texas based food wholesaler that is adding grocery delivery to its existing line of business. Established in 1992 in San Antonio, Food Related has been growing steadily in Schertz since 2016. The SEDC has entered into a performance agreement to provide a $45,000 grant to help the company retain its existing employees at their 30,000 square foot facility located at 17401 Triton. As a condition of the grant, the company must maintain 15 full-time employees, add five more by 2025, and operate the grocery delivery service and wholesale distribution operation for a minimum of 5 years. The project must also maintain its personal property investment and generate an additional $10,000 in sales tax receipts to the City of Schertz.
Before the grant was approved on August 27th, members of Schertz City Council and the SEDC visited the facility and saw firsthand how Food Related supports high-quality end-to-end grocery delivery. The company has translated its relationship-based approach to residential grocery delivery by maintaining its practices of high-quality customer care and food safety, including delivery in sanitized refrigerated trucks.
“Going through this situation has been tough in many ways. But being a part of a community such as Schertz has made the load that much lighter. The support and encouragement we have received from all city officials and the community itself has been more than we ever expected. What is even more touching is the sincerity of this support. Looking back to March – when the pandemic hit – we set out to retain all our dear employees. This grant is a tremendous help in this endeavor, and we are grateful for such generosity. To us, Schertz is home … Schertz is family.”
“This partnership is an example of our on-going outreach to Primary Employers through our Business Retention program. Food Related is a growing company demonstrating resilience and innovation in how it is adapting to the pandemic,” said Adrian Perez, Executive Director of the Schertz Economic Development Corporation. “In addition to job growth and the ability to maintain and grow tax base for the community, we are also supporting additional options for safe, high-quality grocery delivery in Schertz.”
About The SEDC
The City of Schertz Economic Development Corporation’s (SEDC) mission is to grow the Schertz economy through projects that focus on job creation and retention, as well as infrastructure improvements. To further this mission, the SEDC focuses on attracting and retaining Primary Job Employers – companies that produce exportable goods and services. For more information on our initiatives, check out our other blog posts.