The PPP and other economic relief programs haven’t worked for live event venues, which were completely shuttered, and depend on the gathering of large groups of people in order to conduct business and survive. The live event industry has experienced upwards of 90 percent revenue loss and had been closed well into spring 2021 due to health and safety concerns posed by large gatherings.

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The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program included in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act signed into law on Dec. 27th, 2020 denotes eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In total, the Economic Aid Act allocates $16 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants, with $2 billion reserved for eligible applications of smaller organizations with less than 51 full-time employees.  

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All Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million.  

The grants can be used for payroll costs, rent and scheduled mortgage payments, utilities, PPE, and other ordinary and necessary business expenses, including maintenance costs.​  ​

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Who can apply?  Eligible entities include:

• Live venue operators or promoters​​

• Motion picture theater operators

• The venue must

  • Sell tickets

  • Promote events to the public

  • have defined performance and theater spaces with fixed seating

  • Have lighting rig and sound mixing equipment

• Live performing arts organization operators

• Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria

• Theatrical producers

• Talent representatives

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• Entities must have been in operation as of Feb. 29th, 2020​​​

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Per the Economic Aid Act and specific eligibility criteria, certain venues are not eligible:

• Wedding / event venues

• Sports Stadiums

• Restaurant that features live music (unless the performances' ticket revenues are greater than the restaurant's

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The S.B.A. has stopped accepting SVOG applications;  (the portal opened on April 26th, and closed August 20th, 2021).

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Later in August 2021, the S.B.A. will open the program for supplemental SVOGs for 50% of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million (initial and supplemental combined). Details will be announced at a later date.

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Please contact SBA Loan Aid to initiate your application and navigate interactions with the Small Business Administration. 

 

Necessary Supporting Documentation information is available here.

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The Small Business Administration has tiered the applications, first opening to entities that have suffered substantial revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• In the initial 14-day period of implementation, grants will be awarded to eligible entities with revenue losses of at least 90 percent, and

• In the following 14-day period, grants will be offered to entities with at least 70 percent revenue loss, and

• Then entities who suffered a 25 percent or greater revenue loss.​

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