Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program

The State of Michigan allocated $3.5 million to create the Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program to provide grants to entertainment venues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency declarations.

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More than 100 live music and entertainment venues around Michigan have been awarded a total of more than $3.4 million through the Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program. The program, administered in collaboration with the Michigan Independent Venue and Promoter Association (MIVPA), was launched to provide relief for Michigan’s live music and entertainment venues that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

View list of awarded venues

The Michigan Stages Survival Grant Program, approved by the Michigan Strategic Fund in January, provided a total of $3.5 million in one-time grants of up to $40,000 to eligible entertainment venues throughout Michigan. The funds were to be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or costs related to reopening a business.

A total of 392 applications were received for this funding with 101 grants across 30 counties being awarded. MIVPA was responsible for accepting, reviewing and approving applications, with MEDC distributing the grant funds based on the recommendation of the MIVPA.

Eligibility Requirements

Live music and entertainment venues are defined as businesses/organizations that produce and/or present live, disciplined-based performance experiences, to promote and provide connections through creative expression by sharing creative experiences, expressing our own creativity or connecting us with others and ourselves.

Venues must meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be located in the state of Michigan
  • Produce and/or present live, disciplined-based performance experiences.
  • Demonstrate at least 33% of 2019 gross revenues are from the sale of tickets for live music or entertainment events OR receive at least 70% of its earned revenue through cover charges or tickets sales, production fees or production reimbursements, nonprofit educational initiatives, or the sale of event beverages, food or merchandise
  • Demonstrate second quarter revenues from April 1 – June 30, 2020 were not greater than 10% of second quarter revenue from April 1 – June 30, 2019
  • Employ no more than 30 employees on a full time basis
  • Existed prior to February 29, 2020
  • Not owned and operated in more than two states
  • Not owned and operated with offices in more than one country

Eligible Expenses

Awarded grant funds are to be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or costs related to reopening a business.

Additional Information