Lendistry Administers $150 Million in Grants for California’s Live Venues

Lendistry is administering a new grant program to support independent live venues in California. The California Venues Grant Program, launched on October 29, 2021, and provides grants to venues that lost significant revenue in 2020 and 2021 and that gain most of their revenue through ticket sales and event promotion.

To keep their communities and employees safe, spaces that host in-person events closed their doors for several months. While events are beginning to take place again, many venues need support to recover from the long period without income.

This program follows the $4 billion California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, also powered by Lendistry. With these two programs combined, Lendistry and the State of California have deployed the largest COVID-19 grant relief effort in the country. After the success of the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, whose selection and funding phase is still ongoing, the fintech lender stands ready to deliver support for its home state’s live venues.

Lendistry CEO, Everett K. Sands, says, “Live events play an essential role in their local economies and offer a much-needed safe space for people to come together. Lendistry is ready and willing to help support our California venues as they work to reopen and provide a positive atmosphere for our return to the new normal.”

Grant amounts for this initiative will be the lesser of $250,000 or 20% of the applicant’s gross earned revenue in California for the 2019 taxable year. Eligible independent live events venues must have a physical address and operate in California. To qualify for this program, an eligible venue must have a defined performance and audience space, lighting and sound equipment, and one or more paid employees who carry out roles such as sound engineering, stage management, promotion, among others. Lendistry will accept applications through its proprietary platform from October 29-November 19, 2021. Specific details about eligibility and the application process can be found at CAVenuesGrant.com.

Having administered relief and recovery grant programs in several states and counties, and after ranking #8 nationwide in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lending for 2021, Lendistry remains committed to leveraging its expertise and technology to support small businesses and, by extension, local economies, through this pandemic toward a robust and resilient future.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.