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OEWD briefs commission on venue-relief programs, upcoming SF Live campaign and state grant windows
Summary
Ben van Houten of the Office of Economic & Workforce Development updated the commission on state and local relief for music venues: the California Venues Grant Program has closed applications, SB 793 (music venue liquor license / entertainment zones) is being tracked, SF Live ($2.5M) will fund live-music programming, and the city——s Music & Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund opened a second round with roughly $500,000 available.
Ben van Houten of San Francisco——s Office of Economic & Workforce Development gave a short briefing on relief and recovery work for live-music venues.
Van Houten said the California Venues Grant Program (about $150 million total, grants up to $250,000) closed applications on Dec. 7 and state reviewers are currently processing applications. He noted similarities to the federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) and said many SVOG recipients will likely qualify for the state program.
On state legislation, he highlighted SB 793 (sponsored by Senator Wiener), which would create a dedicated music-venue liquor license and enable local entertainment zones with open consumption; the bill is expected to be active when the legislature reconvenes.
Locally, van Houten described "SF Live," a roughly $2.5 million proposal to support live music via outdoor concerts, a music brand, a local music week and marketing support; the funding was secured by Assemblymember David Chiu when he was in the legislature and will require Board of Supervisors acceptance before expenditure. OEWD expects to issue an RFP to secure an implementation partner in early 2022.
Van Houten also announced a second round of grants from the city's Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund: about $500,000 remained from an initial $3 million allocation; existing qualified venues (70) do not need to reapply but additional eligible venues may apply. The fund continues to accept online donations.
Commissioners asked whether further relief tied to the Omicron surge is imminent; van Houten said he had not heard of immediate new grants but that discussions in federal and state channels were ongoing.
