Dear NJIVA Associate or Venue:
As you know, State relief in the form of $15 million in federal CARES Act funds was approved in early April for arts and culture live performance venues around New Jersey. Half was dedicated to nonprofit venues and half to for-profit venues.
Now, for-profit arts and culture organizations will also have access to an additional $10 million in relief funds for a total of $17.5 million in relief funds administered by The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) through what is now being called, "The NJ Community Stage Relief Grant Program."
The $17.5 million grant program will provide grants of up to $300,000 to eligible for-profit establishments that host at least two regularly occurring live performances or events per week. More information about the program is available here. According to this website, "Applications for the New Jersey Community Stage Relief Grant Program are not yet open. The NJEDA will make an announcement when applications open. Continue to check this page for updates."
This funding was granted when, on Wednesday, July 21st, Governor Murphy signed legislation (S3982) providing $135 million in aid to small businesses as they recover from the pandemic. The bulk of the funding will be administered by the Economic Development Authority as part of its Phase IV Emergency Grant Program and NJ Community Stage Relief Grant Program.
Eligible nonprofit organizations will have access to an additional $45 million under this newly signed legislation.
We await word on how The NJ Community Stage Relief Grant Program will roll out and when. Meanwhile, CARES Act relief fund applications for nonprofits have closed, and awards will be voted on this month by the New Jersey Council on the Arts, to be issued in September/October.
We thank each of you for your support as we've lobbied together to pass this relief. We are also grateful to Governor Murphy and the NJ Legislature for passing this relief and demonstrating how much they value our venues, the arts, and New Jersey's future.
Stay tuned to our emails, blogs, and social media for news about the status of State relief funds.
In Solidarity,
Sara Scully
Executive Director, Hopewell Theater
NJIVA Associate Venue
Comments