Klobuchar, Cornyn Statements on Small Business Administration Announcement of Save our Stages Grant Applications

Press Release

Today, the Small Business Administration announced that the application portal for Shuttered Venue Operators Grants will launch on April 8th. This grant program was created by the bipartisan Save Our Stages Act, led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX), and will provide $15 billion in relief for independent venues -- including live music stages, movie theaters, and museums shuttered by the pandemic.

"Independent venues were some of the first establishments to close down and will likely be some of the last to reopen. So many are just hanging on by a thread, but relief is now on the way. In just a few weeks, independent venues will be able to apply for grant funding from the Small Business Administration secured through my bipartisan legislation with Senator Cornyn, the Save Our Stages Act. This funding is critical to getting these venues the help they need to make ends meet and serve our communities for generations to come," said Senator Klobuchar.

"Some live entertainment venues in Texas have been shuttered for more than a year now, and the Save Our Stages Act will help ensure these cultural landmarks remain in business," said Senator Cornyn. "It is imperative the Small Business Administration gets these grants to venues as soon as possible, and I'm looking forward to seeing the difference it makes for Texas' live music industry."

As the SBA builds and prepares to open the program, the dedicated SBA website, www.sba.gov/svogrant, which includes frequently asked questions, video tutorials and other SVOG details, is the best source for information for those looking to apply for a grant. To prepare in advance of the SVOG application portal opening on April 8, potential applicants should get registered in the federal government's System for Award Management (SAM.gov), as this is required for an entity to receive an SVOG, and reference the preliminary application checklist and eligibility requirements.

In June, Klobuchar and Cornyn introduced the Save Our Stages Act to provide Small Business Administration grants for independent venue operators affected by the coronavirus pandemic. These grants will provide six months of financial support to keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.

The bipartisan legislation gained more than 50 cosponsors in the Senate, and the House version of Save our Stages, led by Representatives Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Williams (R-TX), gained over 170 cosponsors.

The Save Our Stages Act is endorsed by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Music Biz, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Recording Academy, American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), and Broadway League.

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