Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor$0: That’s how much money the Small Business Administration has paid independent venues since Save Our Stages Act — which guarantees independent venues and theaters $16 billion in federal pandemic relief — was passed into law five months ago.Indie venues have been struggling to keep afloat since the pandemic began more than 15 months ago, and they have received no aid, while countless other businesses have.
Tens of thousands of venues have submitted applications for Shuttered Venue Operators Grants.A rep for the SBA, which had said it hoped to begin distribution last week, confirmed to Variety that payments have not been processed, pointing to the latest in a long string of technical issues with its website..
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