The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford has received nearly $1.7 million in federal aid to help the museum rebound from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials with the U.S. Small Business Administration said the Science Center got $1,693,918 in the latest round of funding disbursed through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, a federal program set up earlier this year to help support live venues, performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives. The initiative has distributed about $102 million to 135 Connecticut-based businesses since its inception, and about $8.1 billion nationwide.
The Science Center reopened to the public in June 2020 after closing that spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has adopted policies aimed at preventing the spread of the virus, including frequent sanitization and, as of last month, a universal mask requirement.
Aside from the Science Center, three performing arts organizations — 165 Main St. Inc. of Seymour, the Salt Marsh Opera of Stonington and the Paul Winter Consort of Litchfield — also received grants through the SVOG program this week.
