The City of New Orleans has launched economic relief programs for music venues, including waiving 2021 alcoholic beverage operator (APO) and mayoralty permit fees, providing small grants to support venues and individual musicians in becoming compliant with city and state reopening guidelines, and partnering with local nonprofits to provide free, one-on-one assistance to music venues to apply to the SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operator Grants Program. For more information, including a listing of technical assistance providers, please visit the music relief program website.
Federal relief programs have been a critical lifeline to our small businesses. The City reminds businesses that the Payroll Protection Program has extended the application deadline to May 31, 2021. The Payroll Protection Program provides forgivable loans for payroll and other eligible uses. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which has a deadline of December 31, 2021, has also received additional funds that will allow businesses to increase their loan amounts or receive an increased advance for those who have already received an EIDL loan.
“Our musicians and the music industry are the soul of our city and the backbone of our cultural economy,” said said Jeffrey Schwartz, director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development. “As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is striving to support our musicians, music venues and culture bearers in the short term while laying the foundation to diversify our economic base over the long term … We’re doing everything we can to ensure that the cultural economy is leading the way in our recovery,”
The City of New Orleans also reminds local bar and restaurant owners about the ongoing Parklet Pilot Program and the Temporary Sidewalk Café Permit. The City’s Outdoor Dining initiative allows restaurants and bars to provide additional safe dining while indoor occupancy limits are reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Permit application fees and meter rental fees have been waived until June 30, 2021. To aid in the expense of outdoor dining, the City in partnership with the New Orleans Business Alliance has grants of up to $2,000 available to businesses on a first-come/first-served basis
