Title 15 › CHAPTER 116 — CORONAVIRUS ECONOMIC STABILIZATION (CARES ACT) › SUBCHAPTER I — KEEPING AMERICAN WORKERS PAID AND EMPLOYED › § 9009a
Gives money to live venues, promoters, theatrical producers, performing arts organizations, relevant museums, movie theaters, and talent agents that were open on February 29, 2020 and that lost at least 25% of their gross earned revenue in a quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019 (apps filed on or after January 1, 2021 can use the fourth quarter). To get a grant the business must be open or planning to reopen and must meet basic venue rules (for example, a defined performance and audience space, sound/lighting/PA equipment, paid tickets or cover charges, and paid staff for key roles) or, for theaters and museums, similar basic features. Businesses that mainly show sexually explicit material are excluded. The business (or its majority owner) may not be publicly traded, may not have gotten more than 10% of 2019 revenue from federal funding (except Stafford Act money), and may not have more than two of these: operate in more than one country, operate in more than 10 States, or have more than 500 full‑time equivalent employees (30+ hours = 1 FTE, 10–29 hours = 0.5 FTE). Each separate business entity that meets these rules may be treated independently. The Small Business Administration runs the grants and applicants must certify they need the money. For the first 14 days, grants go only to businesses whose revenue from April 1–December 31, 2020 was no more than 10% of that same period in 2019; the next 14 days go to those at no more than 30%. Up to 80% of the funds for this program may be used for those first 28 days. No more than 5 affiliated business entities can get initial grants. At least $2,000,000,000 is set aside for businesses with 50 or fewer full‑time employees until 60 days after awards begin. Initial grants equal the lesser of 45% of 2019 gross earned revenue (or six months of average monthly 2019 revenue for businesses that started after January 1, 2019) or $10,000,000 (relevant museum operators are limited to $10,000,000 total). The grant amount is reduced by certain new PPP loans received on or after December 27, 2020. A supplemental grant equal to 50% of the initial grant may be given if, as of April 1, 2021, the most recent quarter’s revenue is no more than 30% of the same 2019 quarter, but supplemental grants wait until initial applications filed within 60 days are processed. Grant money can pay costs from March 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 (or through June 30, 2022 if a supplemental grant is received). Allowed uses include payroll, rent, utilities, scheduled mortgage or other pre‑February 15, 2020 debt payments, worker protection costs, payments to contractors (capped at $100,000 per person), and ordinary business expenses; grants cannot buy real estate, pay loans made after February 15, 2020, be invested or re‑lent, or be used for political contributions. Recipients must keep employment records for 4 years and other records for 3 years, and the SBA will audit, review, and require repayment or pursue legal action for fraud. The SBA must send an audit plan within 45 days after December 27, 2020 and monthly oversight reports starting 60 days after that date until the funds are spent.
Full Legal Text
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 9009a
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110