SBA’s SVOG grant portal still closed as NITO urges caution, crucial changes
The SBA portal designed to administer Shuttered Venue Operating Grants (SVOG) to struggling US music venues remained closed on Monday, and the National Talent Organization (NITO) is both calling for caution and demanding changes.
Technical issues and contradictory instructions forced the US Small Business Administration to close its SVOG portal Thursday before a single application was received for $16.3 billion in desperately needed funding.
Even before the portal opened, government watchdog the Office Of Inspector General issued a warning critical of the SBA’s planning and questioning the agency’s ability to handle the massive grant program.
NITO Calls For Change
“While we were all extremely disappointed at the difficulties suffered by all of the folks under the SVOG umbrella, we look forward to a solid and productive re-opening once these issues are resolved,” said Frank Riley, Nito President and head of High Road Touring. “There is a huge pressure to reopen the portal now – political, economic, and social – but to risk a repeat of what happened April 8 would only compound all of our problems.”
As the SBA works to relaunch the application portal, NITO has also requested two changes designed to create a smoother, more equitable application process:
1. “Create a 7-day business window for rejected submissions to allow applicants the opportunity to correct errors or supplement their application with additional documents.”
2. “:To mirror the language of the bill, the SBA should open the application process with the 14-day priority window intended for the hardest hit small businesses that suffered a 90% or greater revenue loss.”
“While the frustration among SVOG applicants is palpable and understandable, we recognize the massive undertaking the SBA has committed to in the interest of helping our small businesses,” said Nadia Prescher of Madison House and NITO Executive Board. “This past year has left us all taking on new tasks in unfamiliar territory that we had never anticipated, and the SBA is no exception to this struggle.”
On Sunday afternoon, the SBA tweeted only that it was working on “tech issues” and would provide advance notice of a re-opening.
