New MURR Program offers Mortgage, Utilities, and Rent Relief for Limited Arts Biz Categories
Gov. Cooper announced that $40 Million of the NC Cares Act allocation will be targeted for small businesses that have been unable to operate during the COVID-19 shutdowns. The NC Department of Commerce’s new Mortgage, Utility, and Rent Relief (MURR) Program is be available to qualifying businesses to help with some fixed costs. To qualify, your organization must meet certain eligibility criteria.
Applicants must certify that they were closed during the period April 1 through July 31 and that they expect to be able to operate after the COVID crisis has passed. Having received a PPP, EIDL or other loan will not disqualify you, but you cannot be reimbursed by any other federal source for the expenses for which you seek reimbursement through this program. Basically, no double dipping.
What businesses are eligible?
Some arts-based businesses – such as theaters, dance halls, museum, nightclubs and dance schools – may be eligible under this program. UPDATE: The program was expanded on October 27 to include non-profits and theaters. See below for specific included for and nonprofit arts businesses.
According to the program website, eligibility under the stated categories will be determined by NAICS codes, but specific NAICS codes have not been listed. For more information, webinars are posted online. Note: these webinars do not include the changes made on October 27. NC Center for Nonprofits has a upcoming webinar to discuss these updates on Nov. 5.
IMPORTANT! - Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are now available. You can view a sample application here! So, apply as soon as possible. $40 million has been allocated to this program, but when that is gone, the program is gone.
Eligibility for the MURR Program includes the following types of businesses:
NOTE: As stated above, eligibility under these categories will be determined by NAICS codes, but specific NAICS codes have not been listed. We have done some sleuthing and have highlighted NAICS codes that seem to be targeted by the descriptions on the MURR webpage, but we can not be sure until the codes are listed. In some cases, such as “Dance Halls”, the link we provide goes to a broader category, of which the stated categories is a separate SIC code.
Amusement Arcades - Establishments primarily engaged in operating amusement (except gambling) arcades and parlors. This category includes: Amusement arcades; Electronic game arcades; Family fun centers; Game rooms; Indoor play areas; Pinball arcades; Video game arcades. This category does NOT include establishments engaged in betting/gambling.
Amusement Parks - Establishments primarily engaged in operating a variety of attractions, such as mechanical rides, water rides, games, shows, theme exhibits, refreshment stands, and picnic grounds. This category includes: Amusement parks; Theme parks; Water parks.
Banquet Halls (with Catering Staff) - “Establishments primarily engaged in providing single event-based food service on premises. This category does NOT include providing food services at institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations of others; Renting out facilities without providing catering staff; or off-premise catering.”
Drinking Places - Establishments known as bars, taverns, nightclubs, or drinking places primarily engaged in preparing and serving alcoholic beverages for immediate consumption. This category includes: Bars; Taverns; Cocktail lounges; Discotheques; Nightclubs. This category does NOT include Micro/Craft brewery tap rooms; Restaurants with bars. (NOTE: In the webinar, the presenters seem to define this category as an establishment that is primarily a bar.)
Event Facility Operators — “Establishments primarily engaged in organizing, promoting, and/or managing live performing arts productions, concerts, and sports events held in facilities that they manage and operate. This category includes: Sports arena operators; Stadium operators; Concert hall operators; Live theater operators; Performing arts center operators. This category does NOT include: Performing arts companies; Convention and trade show organizers; Leasing stadiums, arenas, theaters, and other related facilities to others without operating the facilities; Organizing, promoting, and/or managing live performing arts productions, concerts, and sports events held in facilities that they do NOT manage and operate.”
Dance Halls - “This category does NOT include anything other than Dance halls.”
Indoor Fitness and Recreation Centers - “Establishments primarily engaged in operating INDOOR fitness and recreational sports facilities featuring exercise and other active physical fitness conditioning or recreational sports activities. This category includes: Indoor ice or roller skating rinks; Gymnasiums; Physical fitness centers; Indoor handball, racquetball, or tennis club facilities; Indoor swimming pools; Indoor sports training facilities; Dance, aerobic dance, yoga, or martial arts studios. This category does NOT include: Outdoor fitness and recreational sports centers.”
Motion Picture/Movie Theaters (except drive-ins) - “This category includes: Motion picture cinemas and theaters (indoor). This category does NOT include: Drive-In theaters; Film festivals exhibitors; Motion picture exhibition; Motion picture exhibitors for airlines; Motion picture exhibitors, itinerant (traveling from place to place).”
Museums - “Establishments primarily engaged in the preservation and exhibition of objects of historical, cultural, and/or educational value. This category includes: Art galleries (except retail); Planetariums; Art museums; Science or technology museums; Halls of fame; Wax museums. This category does NOT include Commercial art galleries.”
NOTE: We don’t know what a for-profit, non-retail art gallery is either.
To see a complete list of eligible categories and requirements, visit the MURR Program website for more details and to see the application.