Endurance Sports Coalition updated their stakeholders this week on the progress they have made to lobby for more support for our industry. These updates included furthering outreach with live event companies facing the same state endurance sports is.
According to the update:
Through the work of this group, we became aligned with another larger effort led by a consortium of industry associations including tourism, hospitality, retail and others representing over 40% of the American workforce. They are proposing the creation of “America's Recovery Fund,” an unprecedented grant-based relief fund available to non-profit and for-profit businesses of all sizes, allowing for broader needs-based funding to compensate for payroll, operating expenses and lost revenues well beyond the scope of existing CARES Act legislation. The proposed structure is similar to the 9/11 Relief Fund that helped impacted business and entire industries return to normalcy post-2001.
After careful review, the Endurance Sports Coalition has signed on to the America's Recovery Fund Coalition, which will launch to the public early next week. Their effort already has momentum on Capitol Hill, and we understand that there are bills being drafted in both the House and the Senate proposing a version of this relief fund that are quickly gaining traction.
- We've partnered with other major players in the live entertainment space, including Feld Entertainment (Disney on Ice, Monster Jam), AEG, Live Nation, the Broadway League and IATSE to author a joint letter to Congress on behalf of the entertainment industry, outlining four key priorities. We'll share through the full letter once it's published, but here's the highlights:
- Expansion of eligibility and extension of longer term funding for the Paycheck Protection Program to provide needs-based funding for a wider array of organizations that will see longer term impacts.
- Enacting special provisions to the Mid-Size Business Loan program under the CARES Act that address some of the unique aspects of the entertainment industry.
- Establishing clear and consistent federal guidelines for large gatherings and events, and including cost relief for the implementation of screening and safety measures.
- Establish a targeted business recovery fund, allowing for longer term needs-based relief that will help cover expenses broader than just payroll for impacted organizations.
- World Athletics and the International Institute for Race Medicine have joined forces with other key international players to form an Outbreak Prevention Task Force, specifically focused on developing science-driven approach to safely operating mass athletic events in the future. Several Coalition members have been asked to join the global advisory board, and we'll continue to share through updates from this group's work.
- As of today, our Coalition has engaged over 700 member organizations, growing steadily. You've sent over 2.5 Million emails to your athletes on our behalf, and we've received over 2,500 petition signatures as of today. If you need help drafting language for your database, use this template here or reach out for more assistance.
If you want to get involved with the efforts of the Endurance Sports Coalition; they ask for you to sign their petition and reach out to your local members of congress. The information and the template to write letters can be found on the ESC website.