After nine excruciating months, the vast ecosystem of workers who keep the lights on at the country’s independent concert venues are hopeful they can at last breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The long-awaited second stimulus package, which still needs to be passed, designates $900 billion of direct payments and jobless aid to Americans crushed by the continuing scourge of Covid-19. It also incorporates the Save Our Stages Act and with it the establishment of a $15 billion SPA grant program for indie establishments.

Save Our Stages was introduced in July to the Senate by Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and to the House by Reps. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Roger Williams (R-TX) to establish grants to help finance venue employees and the largely gig economy of workers in these business and cultural communities.

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