For venues in Spokane and across the country, relief is on the way
March 10 – A film was shot at the Garland Theater in January and February, but no film has been shown at the 76-year-old venue since March 2020.
“When I’m in there it feels like the theater is sleeping,” said Garland owner Katherine Fritchie, while calling from her Browne’s Addition home. “It just doesn’t feel right.”
Perhaps the garland will emerge from her sleep sometime in 2021, courtesy of the American Rescue Act. The bailout, which has been passed by Congress and is now awaiting signature by President Biden, is a $ 1.9 trillion stimulus package pushed by Democrats to help the United States recover from its economic and health repercussions accelerate the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think it’s a great program,” said Fritchie. “I’m excited about it. I didn’t apply for the second round of PPP funding because I was hoping to get that grant. Getting a grant is much better than getting a loan.”
The stimulus package includes a $ 28.6 billion restaurant revitalization fund, which will be used to provide grants of up to $ 5 million for individual restaurants and $ 10 million for restaurant groups. The $ 5 billion fund is reserved for small businesses with total earnings less than $ 500,000 in 2019.
Congress approved a $ 15 billion grant program for concert halls and cinemas as part of its previous aid package in December. The new stimulus plan will add $ 1.25 billion to that fund, but the Small Business Administration running the program has yet to distribute some of that money or even set up an application process.
Under the terms of the program, concert venues may receive grants of up to 45% of their gross sales up to a maximum of $ 10 million.
This year’s numbers are challenging for venues as the pandemic continues despite the arrival of vaccines. Fritchie views aid as an essential lifesaver for their business.
“It’s extraordinarily necessary,” said Fritchie. “Even if we reopen the box office, the numbers for theaters are so low now. It doesn’t make financial sense to open them.”
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However, Fritchie hopes the garland will greet customers sometime in 2021.
“I would love it if this became a reality,” said Fritchie. “I am thrilled with the help.”
Brandon Hare, the general manager of The Flying Goat, is also delighted with the federal support.
“We appreciate any kind of relief after the year we’ve had,” said Hare of the pizza restaurant, which opened in 2010. “Restaurants can use all the help we can get.”
The restaurants received support from the December incentives, which, however, did not match the grants in the new bill. The good news for restaurants is that the Senate version of the bill added more money for restaurants than the original house version.
Help is on the way, but staying afloat has not been easy for restaurants. “It wasn’t easy, but we moved on,” said Hare. “We had no choice but to reinvent our business. We added an entirely new roadside pickup system and redesigned our patio.”
Six overhead gas heaters enabled The Flying Goat to survive the winter.
“We did what we had to do,” said Hare. “The heaters allowed us to dine outside. Who could have predicted that? We certainly didn’t do it in March last year. The fact that a relief is coming is certainly welcome. This industry has suffered such a defeat. Since the fund ran out. By the way, we’re excited that this will help revitalize our industry and Spokane. This is a great thing for small businesses. “
It’s also good for bigger companies like Spokane Arena, which has been inactive for a year.
“We’ve been watching this for months,” said Matt Meyer, director of the Spokane Arena and the First Interstate Center for Arts Entertainment. “We prepared to have all of our financials ready to file an application right away. This will help save so many venues and businesses. Importantly, the past 12 months have been a nightmare. We have two of ours greatest leave. ” Years and then nothing. It will obviously have a positive impact on our venues. We hope to get something at this point. It will be interesting to see how it works in relation to the amount of money we are all receiving. We look forward to bringing our people back and helping improve Spokane’s economy. I look forward to not only opening our venues, but other venues in our city as well. “
Like the Garland Theater, which is overdue to come out of its hibernation.
“It’s been too long since we closed,” said Fritchie. “Thanks to this, it will be easier to come back.”