Your Merchant Might Be Eligible For More Free Money

For businesses that have held on into 2021, it’s possible that even more free money might still be available. The SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, rolled out in April, was received by the general public with a collective meh, but eligible businesses can get a grant equal to 45% of their entire gross earned annual revenue in 2019. That’s nearly half a company’s annual revenue given to them for free.

Eligible entities include:

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

More than 10,000 businesses have already been funded a total of $7.5 billion through the program, despite an initial rocky rollout. Another $8.5 billion still remains available to apply for.

Lenders and brokers eager to provide value to their small business customers might want to consider sending them the application link.

“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.”