Harvey Economic Development Program

We understand that Harvey’s impact was not just physical damage, but also economic and indirectdamage. As long as you are able to provide proof that your business suffered at least physical, economic damage, or a combination of both physical and economic damage from Hurricane Harvey, this Harvey-impact requirement is satisfied. Examples of economic damage include: reduced business sales/income because of the storm and lost contracts.

A. Fraud is defined by federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1001) as knowingly and intentionally doing any of the following:

1. Falsifying, concealing, or covering up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
2. Making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
3. Making or using any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry.

The consequences of fraud are stipulated in 18 U.S. Code § 1040.

“(a)Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b) of this section,

knowingly—

(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device any material fact; or
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, in any matter involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with a major disaster declaration ... SHALL BE FINED UNDER THIS TITLE, IMPRISONED NOT MORE THAN 30 YEARS, OR BOTH.”