Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Congress earmarked $16 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators grant program last December. But music venue owners locally are singing the blues over the slow response to applications.
Chris Ring of After Dark Entertainment and the Rec Room put his applications in on April 26. "Both applications have changed from submitted to under review, but both applications have been under review for a month now. That's the latest update we've had," says Ring.
Ring says applicants who lost 90 percent or more revenue were supposed to get their rewards by mid-May. Those who lost 75 percent were to receive their grants by the end of May. "That money coming in will help offset what we lost in 2020. We still have rent to pay, insurance, our payroll to keep our staff," explains Ring. He says he has not been able to bring After Dark staff until he gets his grant money, and shows have not been booked until September. Meanwhile, at the Rec Room, he's been able to pivot and serve food and adjust to state regulations.
Ring says he had a busy 2019 to help him, but others haven't been so lucky.
"They now have banks calling for mortgage payments, they have landlords calling for evictions," adds Ring. "There have been people who have owned venues for decades, but they can't keep up on their bills."
Ring says it's healthy competition to have a number of live music venues in Buffalo. "They're cultural institutions for the neighborhood. If you're going there on a Monday or Tuesday, you're getting dinner somewhere, or you're spending the night at a hotel," explains Ring.
Ring says "it's a super frustrating situation" knowing the money was approved and set aside months ago, but none of that money has been distributed.
