By Patrick Cassidy.
NORWICH, CT – Tomorrow afternoon at 1:30pm ET, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) will joined by local theater and live venue executives outside of the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT to announce the upcoming opening of applications for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program. The SVOG program was established by H.R. 133, which Courtney helped pass in December, and was reinforced by the American Rescue Plan Act. The new program is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and targets support specifically towards live venue operators, theaters and performance arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, and other similar entities.
Tomorrow, Courtney will be joined by representatives from impacted local venues, including Donna Lynn Hilton (Artistic Director, Goodspeed Musicals), Brett Elliott (Executive Director, The Katharine Hepburn Theatre), Jacqui Hubbard (Executive/Artistic Director, Ivoryton Playhouse), and others to talk more about the needs and uses for the new funding, and to urge eligible venues to prepare to apply when SBA brings the program live on April 8th.
In December, H.R. 133 authorized $15 billion for the SVOG program. The America Rescue Plan authorized an additional $1.5 billion to assist shuttered live venues, which have all suffered financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also includes $500,000 for technical assistance to help qualifying venues apply, and the American Rescue Plan now allows venues to apply for both the SVOG program and PPP loans. Click here to read more.
Members of the press are invited to attend, and to participate in a Q&A with program participants following the update.
Who: Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02)
Donna Lynn Hilton (Artistic Director, Goodspeed Musicals)
Eric Dillner (CEO, Shoreline Arts Alliance)
Wendy Bury (Executive Director, Southeast Connecticut Cultural Coalition)
Brett Elliott (Executive Director, The Katharine Hepburn Theatre)
Jacqui Hubbard (Executive/Artistic Director, Ivoryton Playhouse)
Catherine Marx (District Director, SBA Connecticut District Office)
What: Press Conference on SVOG Program at Goodspeed Opera House
When: Wednesday, April 7th, 1:30pm ET
Where: Goodspeed Opera House | 6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT 06423
RSVP: To confirm attendance, email Rep. Courtney’s office
