Connecticut entertainment venues and museums have received nearly $65 million in federal aid through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.
The grant program, a carve-out of the American Rescue Plan, was signed into law at the end of last year, and includes $15 billion in relief grants to closed entertainment venues, according to the Small Business Administration.
Eligible entities include live performing arts organizations, museums, movie theatres, live venue promoters and operators, according to SBA. The program is meant to aid these kinds of businesses, which were hit hard by pandemic-related shut-downs.
“Federal relief for our shuttered venues continues to make its way into Connecticut,” SBA Connecticut District Director Catherine Marx said.
Ninety-four Connecticut entities received awards between $15,000 — Main Street Ballet Company in Woodbridge — to $8.8 million — North American Entertainment Group in Guilford — according to SBA data.
Public and private sector officials in Connecticut in recent days have conveyed the importance of entertainment venues to the state’s economy. Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke at an event last month announcing Hartford’s Bushnell Theatre received $5.7 million through the program.
