Thank you, Leader Schumer.
Good evening.
It’s an honor to be with you here tonight and the incredible theater owners, venues, performing arts organizations and cultural institutions of New York!
I want to thank Majority Leader Schumer for the incredible lift, the round the clock hard work of his staff who have propelled the Shuttered Venues Program forward – delivering relief to save your incredible institutions and businesses.
Like me, Leader Schumer grew up in a small business family. We both were impacted by the work we saw our fathers put in to build their businesses for their families. Its what has given me a great passion throughout my life for small businesses.
New Yorkers are fortunate that their senator and America’s Majority leader understand at a personal level the grit, hard work and determination it takes to start, grow and sustain a business, an enterprise. How much your staff and your communities mean to you.
As the voice of small business, I believe that the small business foundation he and I share is why he’s been leading the fight in Congress to get our nation’s small businesses, nonprofits and all of the arts organiation on the call tonight the help needed to rebuild and recover.
That’s why he made sure that billions of dollars in targeted relief was included in the American Rescue Plan including the Restaurants Relief Program, more funding for Shuttered Venues and PPP and more as Leader Schumer referenced.
I’ve committed to leading the SBA as we help bring businesses back, create jobs and build an equitable economy that works for everyone.
I’m proud of my staff who have worked around the clock to get the Shuttered Venues Operator Grant program ready for prime time. With this program we aims to not only help bring the lights back to Broadway … but also revive the touchstones of our communities and cultural landmarks across the country - the community theaters, the music halls, the dance studios … those places that anchor our neighborhoods and play an important role in our economy…fueling travel and tourism and local restaurants, retail stores and mom and pops.
We need to save our stages to bring back those things that define for us what normal, post-COVID life is all about.
The Biden-Harris Administration is working diligently to fight the pandemic so we can look forward to the day this pandemic ends. When audiences will again line up outside your doors. And curtains will rise again.
And at the SBA, we want to help you get ready for that day.
My message to you tonight is this: Help is here.
Through the Shuttered Venues program, we’ll be providing more than $16.2 billion dollars in funds to operators of live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters and many more.
Our plans are for an official launch of the application portal tomorrow, and for the first 14 days, we’ll be focused on helping those of you who suffered high economic losses because of the pandemic.
We know that many of you were the first to be forced to close your doors a year ago.
We know how much you’ve struggled to support your staff, stay on top of upkeep and maintenance, and pay your lease or mortgage.
We know how hard it’s been to pivot or adapt to this covid marketplace and health and safety restrictions.
This program is one of several being rolled out by the SBA that aims to get help where it’s needed most – with a commitment to move as quickly as possible with effectiveness, impact and equity.
And my mission-driven staff has been your voice - moving mountains to make the process as customized and as simple as possible– while still maintaining enough oversight to ensure the money gets into the hands of those who need it.
As California SB advocate, I know first hand that the relief process can be challenging so I’ve directed my staff to implement a customer-first approach to the way we do business. Focus on technology to simplify processes. And commit to equity across all of our programs and initiatives.
And the SBA team has been working alongside incredible industry partners to gain insights and focus on an implementation plan that works best for your sector. The National Independent Venue Association, National Association of Theatre Owners, National Independent Talent Organization, Performing Arts Alliance, Broadway League, American Alliance of Museums and the Associations of Art Museum Directors, Children’s Museums, Science and Technology Centers, and Zoos & Aquariums.
Our economy’s success depends on the success of our nation’s 30 million small businesses and innovative startups, and you are all a critical part of that.
In the coming weeks and months, the SBA will be working hard to connect you all and our small businesses and entrepreneurs across America to the support they need to reopen, start, grow, and be resilient.
It is now my pleasure to turn it over to my Deputy Associate Administrator in the Office of Disaster Assistance Barb Carson, who will share more details about this program.