Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

By Kristin Clayton, CPA

• Tags:
• not-for-profit

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

Eligible entities must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020 and include:

• Live venue operators or promoters
• Theatrical producers
• Live performing arts organization operators
• Museum operators
• Motion picture theater operators (including owners)
• Talent representatives

An eligible venue or promoter who received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020, will have the SVOG reduced by the PPP loan amount.

Grant amounts for an eligible entity in operation on January 1, 2019 will be for an amount equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue or $10 million, whichever is less. For an eligible entity that began operation after January 1, 2019, grants will be for the average monthly gross earned revenue for each full month you were in operation during 2019 multiplied by six (6) OR $10 million, whichever is less.

Funds may be used for specific expenses, which include:

• Payroll costs
• Rent payments
• Utility payments
• Scheduled mortgage payments (not including prepayment of principal)
• Scheduled debt payments (not including prepayment of principal on any indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business prior to February 15, 2020)
• Worker protection expenditures
• Payments to independent contractors (not to exceed $100,000 in annual compensation for an individual employee of an independent contractor)
• Other ordinary and necessary business expenses, including maintenance costs
• Administrative costs (including fees and licensing)
• State and local taxes and fees
• Operating leases in effect as of February 15, 2020
• Insurance payments
• Advertising, production transportation, and capital expenditures related to producing a theatrical or live performing arts production. (May not be primary use of funds)

Grantees will be required to maintain documentation demonstrating their compliance with the eligibility and other requirements of the SVOG program. They must retain employment records for four years following their receipt of a grant and retain all other records for three years.

As of June 14, 2021, 14,214 applications have been submitted for a total request of approximately $11.5 billion of the total $16 billion available. Of the $304.2 million awarded so far, $614,581 has gone to 5 Iowa applicants.

There is still time to apply if you meet the eligibility requirements listed above. While there were some delays and difficulties with the application process early on, SBA is encouraging eligible entities to apply as soon as possible.

Kristin Clayton, CPA | Assurance Director
KClayton@MHCScpa.com