shuttered venue operators grantRSS
Unlike restaurants or stores that could offer carryout or limited service, concert venues were shut down entirely by the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of delay, a $16 billion federal relief program has started releasing funds, but venue operators say they need the money now.

Az venues awarded $45M in COVID relief, but many are still waiting

Jul 12, 2021 ◇ Brooke Newman/Cronkite News

Federal officials have awarded $45.3 million in COVID-19 relief funds to 68 Arizona concert venues, a vast improvement over the single grant awarded a month ago but still far short of the need, advocates say. Read more»

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Steve Chilton, of the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix, said he was only able to book about 75 shows in various venues last year before COVID-19 shut concerts down.

Concert, theater owners call pandemic relief fund efforts a 'disaster'

Jun 11, 2021 ◇ Brooke Newman/Cronkite News

Arizona business owners said a federal program aimed at helping theaters and concert venues shuttered by COVID-19 “has been a disaster,” taking until this month to deliver the first grants from a fund that was approved last year, with only one business receiving a grant so far. Read more»


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