Possible federal grant opportunity: Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

This is a new one from the SBA. It's still in the process of being set up for applications, but I think we're very close to the criteria for museums. The amount would be "equal to 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue ". I watched the video describing the grant (on youtube at https://youtu.be/lrxRRGGutvE ) and I think many heritage railroads are definitely in the ballpark for qualifying for this. It's not a competitive grant other than that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will run out after a couple of billion dollars, and there's lots of other groups (from theaters, concert venues, etc etc) So, let's put our collective preservation hats on together, and share our ideas and strategies for applying on rypn!

The devil to this is in the details. What will likely kill it for us is the requirement for full time (or seasonal equivalent) paid staff. I am trying to see how far we can push the contractor allowance, but I don't think that is going to make muster.

Interesting, but does it imply government oversight of operations? In other words, what is the possible "hook"?

I can't image there will be much if any government oversight, since the grants are for a very, very broad range of non-profit applicants. Other than financial info, there would be no reasonable way for them to audit and do any oversight of actual operations.

Here's a link to the latest FAQ: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files ... AL-508.pdf . This is constantly evolving as they try to connect the intent of the law to the execution of it. It's not final. However, I'm getting the impression that they're trying to match up many odd and unique venues (of which I think tourist railways would be one) with qualifications. There's a lot of gray areas up for interpretation, which won't happen until some actually applies.

In our case, I think we would apply as a museum (the performance venue option includes lots of things about fair payment of performing talent, and I don't think our Santa volunteer wants to unionize or anything, and it's really intended for indoor performances). There are a couple of tricky parts:
1) Professional staff. Well, we're all volunteers. However, many are ex-railroad, and delight in educating the public about railroad history and operations. So, I think we would qualify.
2) [i]Is a museum or movie theatre with outdoor fixed seating eligible to apply?
Yes. The Economic Aid Act does not require qualifying venues to be indoors. If the venue meets the applicable eligibility requirements, it should be eligible to apply for an SVOG.[/quote]So, our fixed seating would be the seats in the passenger cars. We also have a heavy bench in the museum building space, but we don't charge people for sitting there (there has to be a financial transaction to get the grant since it's based on pre-pandemic revenues).
3) Regular Programming. I think that the number of times the space is scheduled (train is run) would be the determinant here.

So, tourist railroads that act as museums by preserving railroad heritage, educate the public, and has the public pay to sit and ride these trains, and then have had significant revenue decline because of state and federal shutdown requirements, should be able to qualify.

According to this video, a museum must have an auditorium with fixed seating.

And from pg 2 FAQ:
Among other requirements, the Economic Aid Act requires a venue to have defined performance and audience spaces. If a particular venue cannot meet this requirement, it is not eligible to apply for an SVOG.

Could an interpretation of this requirement be applied to a side room in an exhibit hall in which there's a few seats and a short video presentation being played on repeat all day? While not the main exhibit, the screen could be the defined performance space, while plain ol' benches could be defined audience space with fixed seating as long as you don't pull the chairs out for any other use.

Alternatively, could performance space be your exhibit tracks? Your docents are indeed (or rather, SHOULD be) performing a particular script. Expanding a bit on the script at the prompt of a visitor question is just improvisation, which clearly is still performance. Audience spaces could be anywhere on the ground in which the tour group stops.

I have been on several zoom calls for this grant in my full-time job as executive director of a regional theatre. The SBA is strictly adhering to the fixed seating requirement in the of a dedicated auditorium space in the traditional meaning of the term.

Wesley

Any clue why this condition exists?

Probably because government agencies look to Congress for how they should interpret laws. When a law passes 50/50 with a VP tiebreak, they interpret that as "strictly and by the letter".

Yeah, it's for institutions with paid staffs. A big part of it is to prevent the layoffs of key personnel for lack of money. The main goal is to keep the employee off the unemployment rolls and also to keep the organization from losing the brain-trust/institutional knowledge of long-term managers and employees.

The government will pay anyway if you lay them off; this is just less destructive.

The trick with a grant like this is that it creates accountability for those funds, and you need to think about who *we* are. A lot of volunteer organizations operate with accounting practices that are ad-hoc to put it graciously.

Take one of the largest railway museums in the country; they had hundreds of thousands of dollars in their Restricted Funds and Endowment... their volunteer bookkeeper didn't even understand what those were, and they spent them. Which is jail if they'd done it on purpose. An incoming Board member finally caught it, and the organization spent years in austerity refilling those funds.

And that was a top organization... believe me, it's "hit and miss" whether an organization could handle the accountability requirements of *any* grant, let alone a government one. Some years an organization might have the right people in place, other years they might not.

Gate keeping to set some limits is my guess.

The documentation is pretty extensive. An annual audit is one of the biggies. How many in our fraternity can meet that challenge?

On the other hand here in Delaware, the state offered a variety of grant and loan programs to meet the needs of smaller non-profits without paid staff.

Wesley

It is a jobs bill after all...... I'm just happy the arts are getting some of the respect that has been dedicated to fast food vendors so far.

Here's a link to the latest SBA FAQ as of 3/22/2021: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/3-22-21%20SVOG%20FAQ%20FINAL.pdf . Let's keep working at what the intent of the grant is, which is in general to assist a number of shuttered venue types, which includes 'museums" as in the FAQ on page 10. While there are many ways to be ineligible, there is also an ongoing process of trying to make the intent of supporting venues shuttered due to the pandemic have a source of grant funding to help offset those losses.

1) Definition of museum (page 9 of the FAQ): many tourist railroads should be able to qualify with the following:

a) Purpose: "cultural heritage"
b) professional staff: this is harder. However, nowhere does it say that the staff must be paid, and professional is not defined. I think volunteer staff who explain the exhibits and educate, and know how to operate/demonstrate such exhibits, would qualify.
c) own, maintain and exhibit tangible objects to the public on a regular basis. This is our rolling stock, railroad memorabilia, etc. It's a really broad category including places like aquariums, zoos, historical homes, nature centers, hands-on museums: places that educate the public.

2) fixed seating. All this means is that because of social distancing, venues had to close because seats could not easily be adjusted to provide that 6 ft. barrier. Wooden benches in a passenger car count. Exhibits in a museum with a big bench that can't be easily moved count. Benches on the station platform count. We will need to submit a Floor Plan (and plan of grounds if outdoor space is used for the performance venue): include all these fixed seating areas!

3) venue programming. Here there's a lot of interpretation possible, since "programming" is so different for aquariums, historic homes, children's museums, etc. My interpretation is the act of passing on the to the public the essence of what your "museum" wishes to impart to them in a way that enriches their understanding. Certainly, riding in a passenger car would be one. Sitting in the station and listening to the history of the railroad would be another. Any space where we depend on the public to be in a fixed seating accomodation to experience what we have to offer.

3) To be eligible, we need to meet the "regular programming" criteria of hosting an average of 4 events per month over the course of a year. So this means running a train 48 times in a year, or 30 train runs and 18 presentations at the station, or any kind of combination, as long as these "events" happen in one of your fixed seating venues. It might even be possible to count each separate train car as a separate venue, but I'd rather just run the train 48 times.

There are a lot of other eligibility criteria as well, but I see these 3 to be critical. Meeting these, then it remains to quantify the economic damage from 2020 compared to 2019, and put together the documentation necessary on the checklist at https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/3-11-21%20SVOG%20application%20checklist-508.pdf. Once the grant applications open, it will start with those entities who were hit the hardest (first open to 90% revenue loss entities, then 70% loss entities, etc.). So, now's the time to figure out if the effort is worth it or not for your organization. It looks like things will start around April 8: https://www.svograntportal.sba.gov/s/.

Ted,

I applaud your enthusiasm.

Before you start down the road to assemble a lengthy application, I urge you and other readers to check first with your regional SBA office and/or your congressional field office on the question "does a passenger car count as a venue?" under the scenario you have outlined.

Best wishes for your application,

Wesley

Interestingly, the UK government has just announced the recipients of the Culture Recovery Fund, for which museums are explicitly eligible, and among others the Churnet Valley Railway will receive £283,000 ($391,359 USA dollars) and the Great Central Railway £515,700 ($713,165). The Churnet Valley Railway's announcement on their facebook page tells a lot about the fund: https://www.facebook.com/churnetvalleyr ... 6911155120

"The Churnet Valley Railway is to receive £283,000 from second round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
The Churnet Valley Railway is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. This award will secure the future of the railway following the global pandemic that has thwarted many heritage sites and operations around the country.
The Churnet Valley Railway ‘CVR’ in the Staffordshire Moorlands has received a grant of £283,000 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.
Nearly £400 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including Churnet Valley Railway in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.
The impact of this global pandemic has forced the CVR to enter an enforced hibernation. The popular heritage railway in the Staffordshire Moorlands, runs steam and diesel train services on weekends, high days and holidays throughout the year. Regular trading income supports the day to day operation of the mainly volunteer run organisation as well as supports capital works such as the Leek Extension.
This award will help us get back on track with our deferred projects from 2020, enable us to run training courses for our staff who operate our services, settle some outstanding customer refunds, and settle supplier accounts from our cancelled Santa and Steam event.
It sets us up for a successful 2021 and provides us the toolkit to clearly demonstrate to all that we will be open for business from the 23rd June. This date gives us sufficient time to ensure safety checks and deferred maintenance on all our assets are completed and gives the great British public more time to adjust to a post lockdown way of life as well as giving the ongoing vaccine drive a greater reach.
Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
This brings the Government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.
The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:
“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.
Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."
Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP comments :
“I am thrilled that the team at the Churnet Valley Railway have been successful in this round of awards from the Cultural Recovery Fund. Covid has affected us all, but the impact on our tourism and hospitality businesses has been most pronounced. This award will help the Churnet Valley Railway to be ready to reopen as soon as they can so that we can all enjoy the fantastic Churnet Valley from one of their heritage trains.”
Gregory Wilson, Managing Director of CVR comments:
“We are delighted to receive this award, not only does it reaffirm that we a central part of the heritage scene in the Staffordshire Moorlands, but it also enables us to put the railway on a safe financial footing following the awful year that was 2020. Our volunteers will be relieved that years of hard work will not be wasted. We recognise through our own problems in 2020 the hard work required to keep a business going during the pandemic and therefore the fact the Government has created this, and other funds give us hope that heritage will continue to be a central part of British culture and reaffirms what a central part heritage businesses like ours bring to the tourist economy”
Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“Spring is definitely here, bringing not only sunshine but that sense of optimism and hope for the future. We are all looking forward to heritage places and other visitor attractions reopening and I am very pleased that we have been able to support DCMS in delivering this vital funding to ensure the UK’s heritage sector can rebuild and thrive, boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting personal wellbeing.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:
“The value of our heritage sites and the people who run them has been amply demonstrated, as they have provided an anchor for so many of us through the dark days of the last year. Vital grants from the Culture Recovery Fund have helped them survive and will now help them recover, as the places we all cherish start to reopen in the months ahead.”
The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England as well as the British Film Institute and Arts Council England.
#HereForCulture"

(continuing previous post in this thread) Here is the Great Central Railway's announcement on their website: https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/2021/04/cul ... w6qK7jm2hc

(In thinking about why our government doesn't likewise "support our cultural heritage," I think that it actually does: our culture is about "Progress with a capital P", and about getting by as cheaply as possible on public services).

"The Great Central Railway has received a grant of £515,700 from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

Nearly £400 million has been awarded to thousands of cultural organisations across the country including GCR in the latest round of support from the Culture Recovery Fund, the Culture Secretary announced today.

The grant, covering the period from April to June 2021, will support the organisation with the costs it faces as it starts to welcome back visitors and makes the transition towards full re-opening

Over £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

This brings the Government's total investment across grants, capital and repayable finance from the Culture Recovery Fund so far to more than £1.2 billion across over 5,000 individual cultural and heritage organisations and sites.

The second round of awards made today will help organisations to look ahead to the spring and summer and plan for reopening and recovery. After months of closures and cancellations to contain the virus and save lives, this funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:

“Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.

Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."



Michael Gough, the Great Central Railway PLC’s Managing Director, said:

“I cannot emphasise enough how much of a shot in the arm this is for us at such an incredibly difficult time.

Whilst we have successfully navigated the crisis thus far, the impact of Covid-19 has dealt the Railway a £3 million income-reduction-blow in the last 12 months and this grant will significantly assist in the funding of actions we need to carry out to re-open Covid-secure and in-line with government guidance.

It will support us in the complex process of transitioning from months of lockdown and significant restriction and to return to the previous sustainable business model of welcoming over 110,000 visitors each year through our doors”



Ros Kerslake, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“Spring is definitely here, bringing not only sunshine but that sense of optimism and hope for the future. We are all looking forward to heritage places and other visitor attractions reopening and I am very pleased that we have been able to support DCMS in delivering this vital funding to ensure the UK’s heritage sector can rebuild and thrive, boosting local economies, creating jobs and supporting personal wellbeing.”



Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:

“The value of our heritage sites and the people who run them has been amply demonstrated, as they have provided an anchor for so many of us through the dark days of the last year. Vital grants from the Culture Recovery Fund have helped them survive and will now help them recover, as the places we all cherish start to reopen in the months ahead.”

The funding awarded today is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed. The funding has been awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England as well as the British Film Institute and Arts Council England."