Kuster Discusses Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) Program with Capitol Center for the Arts and Red River Theatre Leadership

Concord, N.H. -- Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with leadership from the Capitol Center for the Arts and Red River Theatre to discuss federal funding to support the entertainment industry as it continues to recover from COVID-19. Rep. Kuster helped to secure critical funding for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) program in the emergency COVID-19 relief legislation that was passed by Congress and signed into law last December, as well as through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The SVOG program provides Small Business Administration (SBA) grants to support entertainment, music, and art venues that were forced to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Capitol Center for the Arts received both a first draw and second draw PPP loan for a total of $427,000, as well as $1.451 million in SVOG funds. The Red River Theatre received $374,254 in SVOG funds and a $72,600 PPP loan.

"Our Granite State communities and economy are made stronger by our incredible live theater, music, and movie venues," said Rep. Kuster. "As venues across New Hampshire continue to recover and rebuild from COVID-19, funding from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program is helping to keep employees on staff and give our performance industry some much-needed breathing room. I was so heartened to hear of the amazing community support that Capitol Center for the Arts and Red River Theatre have received throughout the pandemic. It truly speaks to the importance of venues throughout New Hampshire as centers of our communities. I will continue advocating for New Hampshire businesses in Congress as we work together to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic."

"The COVID-19 pandemic hit our theater, our staff, and our touring acts hard -- but federal assistance from the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) program was a lifeline as we worked to safely re-open," said Joe Gleason, Interim Executive Director, Capitol Center for the Arts. "We are grateful for the work of Rep. Kuster to secure this funding, and we look forward to continuing to entertain and serve all members of our community."

"The Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program has been essential in our work to keep employees on staff and re-open our theater as we recover from COVID-19," said Angie Lane, Executive Director, Red River Theatre. "It's so important for our theater and others like it to have strong advocates in Congress, and we are thankful to Rep. Kuster for her work securing these federal dollars to support New Hampshire's performance industry."

Rep. Kuster is a fierce advocate for New Hampshire's live-performance and entertainment venue industry in Congress. Thanks to her work and advocacy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hampshire venues have been awarded more than $23 million from the SVOG program.

Source