SUOZZI HELPS DELIVER OVER $51 MILLION IN COVID-19 RELIEF DOLLARS TO LOCAL VENUES ON LONG ISLAND

Huntington’s Paramount Theatre and Cinema Arts Centre, Northport’s John Engeman Theater, Port Washington's Landmark on Main Street, and Roslyn's My Father's Place to benefit from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant 

Today, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) announced that 94 live entertainment venues on Long Island will receive a total of over $51 million from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants program (SVOG). Since the pandemic began, Suozzi has been a strong advocate for the establishment of the relief program, rallying with venue operators across New York in calling for relief for live venues.   

The SVOG program was initially plagued by technical challenges, which have since greatly improved. In Congress, Suozzi routinely advocated for improvements to the program.  His efforts were successful, and the SBA has now approved 9,884 grants nationally, including 1,142 in New York and 94 on Long Island. Grants will continue to be distributed on a rolling basis. 

  “On March 22, 2020, non-essential businesses in New York shut down. The reopening and recovery of businesses has been uneven ever since,” said Rep. Suozzi. “I am relieved that the Small Business Administration heeded our call to improve and expedite the approval process to deliver this critical aid to impacted businesses as soon as possible. Local businesses like these contribute too much to the spirit and culture of our communities and economy for us to do nothing.”

Local businesses that will benefit from the SVOG program include The Paramount Theatre and Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, along with talent and booking agencies, event planners, and entertainment, film and television production companies in both Huntington and Melville.

“I would like to thank Congressman Suozzi for the time he took listening to me and learning about our industry. He was constantly advocating on our behalf to make sure the Save Our Stages legislation would be included in the COVID relief bill passed last December.  The SVOG program has thrown the live venue industry the lifeline that is needed to get to the other side of this pandemic,” said Kevin O’Neill, owner of the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.

“We would like to thank Congressman Suozzi for his diligent efforts in passing the SVOG legislation. This has been a lifeline to all of us who wish to keep the arts alive and well on Long Island,” said Dom Catoggio, one of the owners of The Paramount in Huntington

See which New York businesses have been approved for the SVOG program here.

Background: 

The Small Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established through the bipartisan COVID-19 relief package passed in December 2020. As a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Rep. Suozzi was part of the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who crafted the bipartisan framework the relief package was built on. Rep. Suozzi helped secure additional funding for the SVOG program through the American Rescue Plan, to total over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues in order to keep businesses afloat and workers on the payroll.

 The American Rescue Plan also instituted a fix to ensure shuttered venues that received Paycheck Protection Program loans after December 27, 2020, can also receive a Small Venue Operators grant, as long as the grant is reduced by the amount of PPP funds provided. Applying for both grant programs was previously prohibited.