Eugene O’Neill Theater to Receive More Than $1.1 Million in American Rescue Plan Relief Funding, Courtney Announces
NORWICH, CT—Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) made the following statement after helping announce that the Eugene O'Neil Theater Center in Waterford, CT will receive a federal relief grant through the American Rescue Plan totaling more than $1.1 million. The relief funding was awarded to the theater center through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program, which was authorized by Congress and supported by the American Rescue Plan Act (H.R. 1319) to target support specifically towards live venue operators—theaters, concert halls, cinemas, and other similar entities.
Yesterday, Rep. Courtney visited the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center for a meeting with Executive Director Tiffani Gavin to discuss the new American Rescue Plan funding. SVOG relief funding to use in a variety of ways, from payroll costs, to rent and utility payments, and more.
"We are tremendously grateful for the SVOG award provided through the American Rescue Plan," said Tiffani Gavin, Executive Director of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. "These funds will be vital in shaping our recovery and will go toward expenses such as payroll, utilities and maintenance as we prepare for audiences and artists to return to our campus. We have the room and a sense of security that will allow us to focus on delivering the quality performances and instruction for which the O'Neill has been known for 57 seasons."
"Earlier this year, live venue operators like the Eugene O'Neill Theater were going to be barred entirely from receiving SVOG funds, simply because they'd also sought support through the PPP program in 2020," said Congressman Courtney. "The American Rescue Plan fixed that—the plan provided critical clarification for theater operators who had utilized PPP, and it opened up the SVOG program for their benefit. Our local theaters and live venues provide real, good-paying jobs, and this new American Rescue Plan support is going to help them stay open and on their feet as our recovery continues. On top of being a local small business, the Eugene O'Neill Theater is an icon in southeastern Connecticut and for the entire artistic community. This federal funding is going to help the Eugene O'Neill Theater and the other local venues we love to hit the ground running this summer after a tough year, and it's another example of why I voted to pass the American Rescue Plan."
Courtney helped create the SVOG program when he voted to pass H.R. 133, which authorized $15 billion for the program. The American Rescue Plan Act authorized an additional $1.5 billion to assist shuttered live venues. Courtney voted to pass the American Rescue Plan Act on March 10th, sending it to President Biden's desk where it was signed into law on March 11th.
On February 12th, Courtney was joined by Tiffani Gavin and other local theaters and arts organizations as he provided updates on new federal resources for shuttered live venues. On April 7th, Rep. Courtney joined local theater and live venue operators to announce the opening of applications for the SVOG program.
A federal SVOG grant of $1,194,449 will be awarded to the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. The SVOG program was created to provide economic relief to live venues shuttered by COVID-19, and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Impacted venues are able to put SVOG relief funding to use in a variety of ways, from payroll costs, to rent and utility payments, scheduled mortgage and debt payments, worker protection expenditures, state and local taxes and fees, insurance payments, maintenance and administrative costs, and a wide variety of other ordinary and necessary business expenses. Click here to read more.
In June, Courtney announced two SVOG grant awards totaling more than $420,000 to the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association in Groton, CT, and to Niantic Cinemas (Niantic Cinema Corp.) in Niantic, CT. Last week, Courtney announced that the historic Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT will receive more than $2,000,000 in SVOG support.
The SBA is still working to process SVOG grant applications from venues across the region, and is expected to provide more updates on outstanding grant applications.
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