Arizona Venues Can Apply For Federal Funding Saturday

ARIZONA — Shuttered and struggling venues across Arizona can try to land a chunk of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant funding on Saturday morning.

Applications for the more than $16 billion in funding will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at 9:30 a.m. Arizona time Saturday, the administration said.

The funding is open to live music venues, live performing arts organizations, museums, movie theaters, in addition to live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives.

The SVOG funding was initially supposed to be released on April 8 but was shut down after technical issues shut down the portal, the administration said.

Applicants are advised by the administration to register on the portal prior to applying for funding, as they'll need to provide two levels of authentification from a smartphone to apply.

The $16.2 billion grant fund was created as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Here are some of the venues and places that most likely can apply in Arizona, provided they meet the conditions set forth by the SBA:

• The Rialto Theatre/191 Toole (Tucson).
• Hotel Congress (Tucson).
• The Fox Theatre (Tucson).
• The Reid Park Zoo (Tucson).
• The Tucson Museum of Art (Tucson).
• The Van Buren/Crescent Ballroom (Phoenix).
• The Rebel Lounge (Phoenix).
• The Phoenix Zoo (Phoenix).
• The Musical Instrument Museum (Phoenix).
• The Marquee Theatre (Tempe).

For more information on the program, visit the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant website.