Press Releases

Trahan Announces Over $4.1 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funds To Save Local Venues and Create Jobs

Washington, July 30, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) announced over $4.1 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) that will support 10 small businesses in the Massachusetts Third. Congresswoman Trahan voted to establish the SVOG program, which provides critical relief to businesses in the music and entertainment sectors hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the bipartisan COVID-19 relief package passed in December 2020. Trahan secured additional funding for the program with her vote for the American Rescue Plan, to total over $16 billion in grants.

“This pandemic devastated small businesses across the country, especially local theatres and concert venues,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The Shuttered Venues Operators Grants program, which provides funding to bolster these small businesses and get Americans back to work, is critical to our pandemic recovery. This support will save venues and create jobs, and will enable our beloved businesses, like the 10 receiving grants in the Third District of Massachusetts, to continue their vital contributions to our communities. I’m proud to champion this effort, and look forward to continuing my work to support small businesses in Massachusetts and across the country.”

Trahan successfully secured grants for the following 10 venues in the Third District:

  • Animal Adventures in Bolton: $328,186
  • Wilson Stevens Productions, Inc. in Chelmsford: $997,637
  • Cinema World, Inc. in Fitchburg: $744,110
  • Gardner Theatre Corp in Gardner: $650,764
  • The Collings Foundation, Inc. in Hudson: $176,479
  • New England Concerts LLC in Lawrence: $67,125
  • Coco Luna LLC in Lowell: $482,350
  • Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Inc. in Lowell: $269,915
  • The Lowell Festival Foundation in Lowell: $416,949
  • Boston Music Management LLC in Methuen: $23,929

The SVOG program was initially plagued by technical challenges and persistent delays. Congresswoman Trahan acted swiftly to address these issues, joining a bipartisan effort of over 200 Members of Congress in calling for the Small Business Administration to expedite the release of funds. This effort was successful, prompting the approval of 9,844 grants for shuttered venues in order to keep businesses afloat and workers on payroll.

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