Shuttered Venues Operators Grant (SVOG) Evaluation

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) was established to support the ongoing operations of eligible venues that were financially affected by prevention measures and closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this mixed methods evaluation was to better understand key outcomes of SVOG, grantee characteristics, and grant allocations. The evaluation used a difference-in-difference statistical analysis to compare outcomes of SVOG grantees and non-recipients. The statistically significant findings are that after the disbursement of SVOG funds, grantees experienced increased annual revenues and greater chances of business survival. Analysis of administrative data showed that most grantees spent funds on payroll and general operating expenses. Findings from a grantee survey and follow-on interviews corresponded with the quantitative findings, revealing that grantees felt SVOG prevented their businesses from closure.