Gov. Evers, DOA Secretary Brennan Announce 54 Awardees for the COVID-19 Movie Theater Grant Program

Note that locally grants have been awarded to Micon Cinema, Eau Claire Theater Group LLC (Oakwood Theater), and the Stanley Theater.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that $10 million from the COVID-19 Movie Theater Grant Program has been awarded to 54 movie theater operators across Wisconsin. The program will provide critical funds to assist movie theaters impacted by the pandemic.

“Wisconsin businesses across industries and communities have felt the strains of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and movie theaters have been particularly hard as they also battle stalled movie production,” said Gov. Evers. “Movie theaters are often a corner stone of our main street businesses, and I am glad we were able to get these funds out the door to help them keep theirs open.” 

Funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), the COVID-19 Movie Theater Grant program provides eligible grantees average awards of $14,600 per eligible movie theater screen in Wisconsin. Grant funds can be applied towards pandemic-related operational costs such as facility improvements to provide appropriate social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing, and personnel costs necessary to provide appropriate COVID-19 safeguards. 

“Movie theaters employ thousands of individuals throughout the state,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “We hope this funding will provide some relief to these institutions in communities large and small so that they can continue to provide Wisconsinites with employment and family memories in the years to come.”

A full list of grant winners is available here.