San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Monday announced the city's 3-million-U.S.-dollar Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund will begin accepting applications for grants.

The fund was established to provide financial support to San Francisco-based live music and entertainment venues to prevent their permanent closure due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will open on April 21, the announcement said.

"These music and entertainment venues are part of what makes San Francisco such a special place to live and visit," said Breed. "This past year has been devastating for the entertainment sector, and these local funds will help these businesses hang on until they can start operating again."

In March 2021, Breed agreed to allocate 3 million dollars to the fund as part of 24.8 million dollars for small business loans and grants in the current year surplus spending plan.

The first round of grants will expend all 3 million dollars in equal amounts to every venue eligible to receive funding. Grants will be at least 10,000 dollars for each venue, although that amount will vary based on how many venues qualify for the program, according to the announcement.

"San Francisco's storied live music venues bring more than just economic activity to our city; they are the beating heart of our shared culture, diversity, and sense of identity," said Ben Bleiman, president of the San Francisco Entertainment Commission.

"But due to the pandemic, many of them are teetering on the edge of permanent closure ... These grants will play a crucial role in saving our live music venues before it's too late," he added.

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