News Release
Release Date: July 27, 2021
Release Number: 21-57
Contact:Press_Office@sba.gov
SBA Reaches New Milestone Awarding $7.5 Billion in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants to over 10,000 Venues
Unique program distributes grants to venues in the nation’s 50 states and several U.S. territories directly impacted by COVID-19
WASHINGTON – Today, the
U.S. Small Business Administration reached a new milestone of successfully awarding over $7.5 billion in
Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOGs) to more than 10,000 hard-hit live entertainment small businesses, nonprofits, and venues. The SVOG program is designed to assist in getting the nation’s cultural institutions, which are critical to the economy and
were among the first to shutter, back on track.
The SBA worked closely with the White House and other federal partners to process SVOG applications faster after the first two weeks of awards did not set the pace needed for this emergency funding. While more work is still needed to help businesses recover
from the pandemic, the SBA took swift action to expeditiously process loans for SVOG and get funding into the hands of hard-hit operators.
“After making improvements to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the SBA is now delivering money quickly, efficiently and fairly to highly-impacted small businesses and venue operators that are critical to America’s cultural fabric and local economies,”
SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said.
“When I began my tenure at the SBA, this first-of-its-kind SVOG program was not where I wanted it to be. I’m proud that, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our talented team, we have turned the ship around. America’s small businesses can rest assured
that the SBA will continue to work around the clock to provide the relief that is needed to revitalize local economies and build back better from the pandemic and economic crisis.”
Additional Resources and Information
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners
with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn
more, visit www.sba.gov.
|
