Some good news for live music venues in New Hampshire.

According to WMUR, Governor Sununu announced a federal grant program which will provide financial relief to the struggling industry.

The relief program includes 12 million dollars to help these live venues.  WMUR reports that venues can apply for up to 1.5 million dollars in aid.

Venues have until October 13th to apply for the aid. They can do that here.  According to NHpublichealth.force.com, the program was put in place to help NH performance venues recover from the economic impact of Covid-19.

Governor Sununu tells Manchesterinklink.com

"“Live performance venues are the lifeblood of many communities and serve as an economic engine that drives tourism to help sustain main street businesses, restaurants, and hotels. To lose these venues would be an economic blow that would have a widespread and profoundly negative ripple effect felt across these communities for many years to come.”

According to a survey by NPR in June, about 90% of independent venues, bookers and promoters said they would need to permanently shutter their businesses if they didn't receive an "infusion of targeted government funding."

Hopefully this is the first step in keeping our music venues open and thriving!

 

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