H.B. 785 Summary

• Establishes grant program for qualifying performing arts venues, producers, and promoters that experienced at least 75% revenue decrease from March 15 to November 1, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

• Eligible applicants must have principal business in Ohio, employ fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees, and cannot be publicly traded, multinational, or operate in other states.

• Grant amounts range from $20,000 to $200,000 based on 2019 revenues, with larger grants for higher-revenue operators.

• Grants may be used for rent, mortgage, employee compensation, security, personal protective equipment, equipment upgrades, utilities, insurance, licenses, loan payments, or revenue recoupment due to COVID-19 event cancellations.

• Appropriates $20 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for fiscal year 2021 to the Development Services Agency to administer the "Save Our Stages" grant program, with applications due by November 30, 2020, and disbursement by December 30, 2020.