Congressman Cleaver Announces More Than $43 Million From the American Rescue Plan Approved for Local Venues in Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced that 46 venues in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri will receive more than $43.5 million in Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG). Congressman Cleaver was an ardent advocate of federal relief for live entertainment venues and voted to establish the SVOG program—which provides support to hard-hit businesses in the music and entertainment sector that were forced to close due to the pandemic—with his support for the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

"The American Rescue Plan continues to provide substantial, desperately needed relief to businesses in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri," said Congressman Cleaver. "Live entertainment venues play a pivotal role in local economies throughout Western Missouri, which is why I have been fighting tooth and nail to get these businesses the relief they need and deserve. I'm hopeful this $43 million will help each of these venues climb out of the hole the pandemic created and ensure the communities they serve can continue to build back better."

The SVOG program was established through the bipartisan Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, which Congressman Cleaver supported. Congressman Cleaver helped secure additional relief funding for the SVOG program through the American Rescue Plan Act in March, totaling over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues in order to keep businesses afloat and workers on payroll.

While the SVOG program was initially troubled by technical difficulties, Congressman Cleaver took swift action to address the challenges businesses were experiencing by joining over 200 bipartisan Members of Congress in calling for the Small Business Administration to expedite the release of funds. Since that time, the SBA has approved nearly 10,000 grants, including more than 180 in Missouri.

The full list of SVOG awards is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.