IAVM continues to partner with TwinLogic Strategies to advocate for and on behalf of our members and the entire venue management industry as we work to recover, reopen and get back to business. post-pandemic.  Below is an update of the latest efforts at the SBA and Congress:

SBA SVOG – Slow-Going, but SBA Aims to Speed Up Process with Additional Teams:

SBA officials have told Congress and stakeholders this week that they plan to process all of the more than 15,000 applications to the Shuttered Venue Operating Grants program by mid-July,  and a goal of 10,000 by July 4.   This is after the agency has faced multiple public complaints, including a stern letter from Senators last week, about the significant delays in the program’s launch and myriad technical problems with the portal for applicants.

As of Friday AM 6/25:

• 5680 applications processed with 1876 awarded. 
• 1387 queued for award. 
• 152 declined. 
• 900 cued for decline
• 881 with needed technical corrections 
• 662 still being worked through for either technical corrections or for decline.

The SBA reports that the average length of time between award notification and receipt of funds is three days.

SBA officials say they are still working out the kinks with the SVOG portal, but have made shifts and additions to their internal teams to speed up the review and award process and improve its technical assistance services for applicants.  Applicants should still email svogrant@sba.gov but with the internal changes, they should receive a quicker, more substantive response to their questions.

Questions/Remaining Issues with SVOG:

Will the SVOG Run out of money before all applications are processed?  No.  Based on the number of applications submitted, SBA has told Congress it expects $11.7 billion in applications.  The Fund has $16 billion.  If there is left over money, they’ll likely allow existing recipients to apply for supplemental funding. 

Processing: There is still a backlog among applications that have been reviewed and are just awaiting final approval, as well as between approvals and awaiting final awarding and disbursements. This past week, they provided cross-training between the different categories of workers so that they can easily shift people between roles in order to find the right balance and work-flow.  There are plenty of people past the review process but not the approver process. As the review process takes approximately four hours, and the remaining processes are rather swift in comparison, they still believe that they will hit their July processing goals.

4506-T They are launching a new 4506-T form curing process that provides applicants with a pre-filled form so it’s easy to sign and send back. That began on Friday.

Technical Corrections Notifications:  If venues have technical errors that need fixing, they will be notified via email on Monday 6/28.  

Appeals for Award Modifications:  The SBA has cleared the legal hurdles and found there is nothing barring reconsideration on the award amount. Now they have to determine the process and present it to the Administrator, likely happening next week. Reconsiderations will be made after this whole approval process is done. 

Appeals Process for Rejected Applications:  At this time, applicants can re-apply only if there are technical issues or errors on the application, but not if they were deemed ineligible.  SBA has not yet determined if applicants that have been rejected due to ineligibility can re-apply.   Unfortunately, once the application is rejected, the SBA says it is technically unable to provide a reason for that rejection.  They acknowledge that this is a problem and say that they are working on it, but it could take a while.

Congressional Efforts to Help Venues Get Back Up and Running:

• A Senate Travel and Tourism committee held a series of hearings this spring on the challenges facing the entertainment, hospitality and conventions industries to reopen. Key challenges include the labor shortage, lost revenue due to shuttered venues and then once reopened, less revenue due to limited capacity requirements; and significant costs to reconfigure facilities.
• Two pieces of legislation have been introduced by Nevada’s U.S. Senators and the Representative who represents Las Vegas to address some of these issues.
  • The Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act (S. 477, Sens. Cortez Masto (D-NV)/ Cramer (R-ND) and H.R. 1346, Rep. Horsford (D-NV)) would support the convention and trade show industries by establishing a tax credit for the cost of attending or hosting a convention, business meeting or trade show between January 2022 to December 2024. It would extend the Employee Retention Tax credit for another year.  It would restore the Entertainment Business Expense Deduction by repealing the changes made by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It would also provide a modest tax credit for qualified travel expenses for many Americans. This legislation has 7 Senate cosponsors and 89 House cosponsors.
  • The FRESH AIR for Businesses Act (S. 122, Sens. Rosen (D-NV)/Cramer (R-ND) and H.R.1398, Rep. Bordeaux (D-GA)): This legislation would provide a tax credit to businesses and nonprofits for up to $15,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of air filtration systems and equipment.  This legislation has less support.  There is one cosponsor in the House and one in the Senate.

Status: The sponsors of these bills are working to get them included in comprehensive infrastructure and tax legislation Congress and the President aim to pass this year.  IAVM will work for inclusions of these measures in the package. 

By Quinn Phillips

Explore Edmonton in collaboration with the Edmonton International Airport, Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels (EDMH), Oilers Entertainment Group, TRAXX Coachlines, Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre, has announced that Edmonton has successfully secured the Destination Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ Accreditation. Edmonton is now the first and only Canadian destination, and one of only four destinations throughout North America, to have obtained the Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation.

In support of the Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation, Explore Edmonton has launched a promotional campaign and platform Visit Safely in Edmonton: From Touchdown to Takeoff to encourage business travel, meetings, conventions and major events to return to Edmonton following COVID-19 related cancellations and postponements. The campaign showcases the health & safety and outbreak prevention measures will be in place at participating properties across the city. In addition, Explore Edmonton and EDMH are offering substantial incentives for event planners who are considering Edmonton as their host destination.

“For over a year, Edmonton’s tourism and hospitality industry has experienced widespread travel restrictions, event postponements and cancellations,” said Maggie Davison, Interim CEO, Explore Edmonton. “As we reopen, our industry must show solidarity and collaboration in our commitment to providing a safe experience for business travelers and events returning to Edmonton. Our Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation proves that we are prepared to responsibly open for business—reigniting our industry and positioning Edmonton among the safest business event and travel destinations in North America.”

The Destination GBAC STAR™ Accreditation program is the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention,
response and recovery accreditation for facilities and destinations. This means the cleaning, sanitization,
outbreak prevention and recovery programs at participating Edmonton hotels, venues and transportation agencies are accredited and validated by the gold standard program that prepares them with the right systems to protect against and respond to biorisk situations, including COVID-19. To obtain GBAC STAR™ Accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with 20 specific elements including maintaining strict cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, infectious disease prevention planning, staff training and more.

“The pursuit of GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation by various venues in Edmonton is a testament to the city’s commitment to a heightened level and ongoing priority of cleanliness that citizens, visitors, and staff now expect,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Through the GBAC STAR accreditation,
they are showing their dedication to the next step in infection prevention post-pandemic: cleaning for
health.”

Quinn Phillips is Strategic Communications Manager, Explore Edmonton.

By Sarah Maio

The Wisconsin Center District (WCD), in partnership with Cross Management Services, Inc. (CMSI) and Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services (Prism), unveiled their plans for tracking and verifying diversity and inclusion procedures throughout construction of the Wisconsin Center expansion. Both CMSI and Prism have a thorough process for monitoring and tracking commitments to inclusion efforts for both businesses and the workforce, respectively.

“The Wisconsin Center expansion will create thousands of jobs during construction and again once opened, and it’s important to us that a variety of these jobs are held by Milwaukee residents and representative of our community,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “Prism and CMSI will ensure that we’re keeping our promise to the community and meeting the inclusion goals we’ve committed to.”

The WCD has committed to contracting with at least 25 percent minority-owned businesses, five percent women-owned businesses, and one percent disabled veteran-owned businesses for construction, along with a Residential Preference Program (RPP), mandating at least 40 percent of on-site construction labor hours will be performed by trade workers residing in the city of Milwaukee. Upon opening, the expanded Wisconsin Center is expected to support 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs throughout the state of Wisconsin.

The WCD is prepared to meet these inclusion and diversity goals and is currently on track to maintain them. Final business inclusion goal results will be available in Q4 2021.

“At CMSI, we use creativity and business savvy to meet and exceed our clients’ inclusion goals. Policies of diversity and inclusion help build better businesses, and a stronger community. We are happy to partner with the WCD to ensure easy, effective, and verifiable compliance with their business inclusion process,” said Carla Cross, president and CEO of Cross Management Services, Inc. “Our unique quality control systems provide multiple checks for information accuracy and onsite visits authenticate the performance of a commercially useful function by certified firms.”

While CMSI will ensure contracted businesses meet the WCD’s goal for minority-owned, women-owned, and disabled veteran-owned companies, Prism will monitor diversity in the workforce. The bidding process for subcontractors has already begun, but there are still many open construction jobs. To help fill these roles, Prism representatives attended Northcott Neighborhood House’s Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 19, where they shared information about the Wisconsin Center expansion and collected contact information and work history of those interested in joining the construction team.

“The Wisconsin Center expansion will have a profound impact on the Milwaukee community, and we’re looking forward to partnering with the WCD team to make sure inclusion goals and milestones are met throughout the construction process,” said Randy Crump, CEO of Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services. “We have an abundance of untapped talent in southeast Wisconsin, and there’s no better place to start recruiting that talent than within our own city.”

Sarah Maio is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Wisconsin Center District.

By SportsBusiness

Insurance company Canada Life has become the new naming rights partner of the home of NHL ice hockey team Winnipeg Jets with current sponsor, telecommunications firm Bell, set to remain associated with the arena in a lesser capacity.

The venue, which also plays host to Manitoba Moose American Hockey League (AHL) games as well as major concerts and other events, will be renamed Canada Life Centre from July 1. The 10-year sponsorship agreement includes substantial branding, media, hospitality and community assets for Canada Life, which agreed the deal with True North Sports + Entertainment, owner and operator of the arena and Jets.

“As True North Sports + Entertainment celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, we can’t think of a more exciting way to embark upon the next 10 years of our organisation’s journey than with a partner like Canada Life, that shares the same community commitment and passion for our great city and country,” said Mark Chipman, executive chairman of True North Sports + Entertainment.

Canada Life employs more than 11,000 people across the country, with 3,300 alone at its headquarters in Winnipeg. “We are thrilled to introduce Canada Life to all Canadians in this big and bold way and build on the momentum our company has achieved since moving to one brand in the Canadian market,” said Jeff Macoun, president and chief operating officer in Canada for Canada Life.

“We have a long history and deep roots in Winnipeg and we’re proud to have our name on a place that embodies the heart and spirit of the city’s vibrant community.”

The arena opened in 2004 as the MTS Centre, and was renamed Bell MTS Place in 2017 after Bell acquired Manitoba Telecom Services. In a separate announcement, True North said Bell MTS has agreed a new five-year deal, running across the 2021 to 2026 seasons, to remain as an official partner of the Jets and Moose and official telecommunications provider of their home venue.

True North said Bell MTS will “revolutionise” the experience for Jets fans in the building, and those watching via broadcaster TSN, through next-generation networks and technologies. The agreement also includes new behind the scenes content produced by True North Sports + Entertainment and exclusive to Bell.

Additionally, the Bell logo that has appeared on the helmets of Winnipeg Jets players this season will remain for the next five campaigns.

By Sue Oxarart

Toyota Arena announced the hiring of Denise Gonzales to the position of director of booking. This new position for Toyota Arena was created to provide a dedicated focus on booking events for the venue. “We are pleased to welcome Denise to Ontario and look forward to her expertise in managing our entertainment calendar,” said Michael Krouse, Regional Vice President of SMG Worldwide. “Her vast experience and contacts in the entertainment industry, in addition to her knowledge of our region in Southern California, will ensure we will continue and exceed our guest’s expectations for a full calendar of concerts, family shows, and sporting competitions.”

Gonzales, a Southern California native, started her new role on June 21. She began her career in the live entertainment industry as a booking intern at Live Nation. There she worked her way up to booking assistant for House of Blues West Hollywood and Anaheim, and tour project manager shortly thereafter. During her eight years employed at Live Nation, Gonzales managed bookings of a variety of events in a multitude of music genres including rock, pop, hip-hop, metal, punk rock, emo, Latin, country, and J-Rock as well as non-traditional, non-musical events. In 2017, Gonzales took the director of booking and entertainment role at ArenaNetwork, where she worked vigorously to drive more content to arenas across the country. Her efforts and persistence have resulted in numerous successful events at ArenaNetwork member venues over the past four years.

Gonzales was born in Monterey Park and grew up in La Puente. She and her family moved to Chino prior to her freshman year in high school. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communications with an emphasis on Entertainment from California State University, Fullerton.

Sue Oxarart is Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau and Ontario Convention Center.