After months of woefully meager COVID-19 aid for U.S. music institutions, the Save Our Stages legislation found its way into December’s relief bill. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program will award $15 billion to sidelined establishments, and now the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided instructions for applicants ahead of the rollout.
Each SVOG payment will cover 45% of gross revenue lost by a business during pandemic, up to $10 million. In order to be eligible, applicants must have been operating in the U.S. on February 29th, 2020, according to an SBA FAQ. Recent PPP loan applicants and recipients are disqualified, as are publicly traded corporations and purveyors of goods and services “of a prurient sexual nature.”
Despite having resulted from Save Our Stages lobbying, the SVOG program is open to more than just venues. Event organizers, theatrical producers, museum operators, and talent representatives are also eligible.
As of the FAQ’s January 29th publication, applicants are instructed to obtain a D&B D-U-N-S number and begin SAM registration as the process can take up to two weeks. In the meantime, they’re also encouraged to frequently check the SBA website in the event that more options become available.
The SBA has yet to a timeline for when the SVOG program will begin accepting applications and distributing payments.
Image credit: Josh Gordon
