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Apply NOW for a USTA Facility Recovery Grant!

The COVID-19 virus has forced most tennis facilities in the U.S. to close at some point in the last few months to help prevent the spread of the virus. Now, as portions of the country begin to ease some of the restrictions around businesses and social gatherings, some facilities and clubs are beginning to open their courts, respecting local and state guidelines.

To help in the support and recovery of tennis facilities—and to help get people back in the game—the USTA is providing $5 million in Facility Recovery Grants, intended to defray some of the tennis-related costs associated with reopening. (This article, and others designed to help facilities and tennis providers through this challenging time, are on the Tennis Industry United website at tennisindustryunited.com.)

Whether your facility is membership based or public, to be eligible for a grant under this program, it must be open to the public for play and/or programming. It’s also important to note, these Facility Recovery Grants are not intended to cover lost revenue, income or dues while the facility was closed due to the pandemic.

The Facility Recovery Grants are to cover reopening expenses, such as:

• Tennis balls and teaching equipment (carts, hoppers, ball tubes, etc.)
• Cleaning/sanitizing supplies or services (i.e., disposable gloves, disinfectant, cleaning equipment)
• “No-touch” items, such as scanning software

To be eligible for a grant, facilities must meet certain criteria, including:

• 4 or more tennis courts Open to the public for play and/or programming
• Good standing with local, state and federal regulations
• Acknowledgement and agreement of non-discrimination practice and policy
• Teaching pros who are Safe Play compliant or agree to become compliant within 90 days of grant award
• Other criteria at the discretion of the review team

Applications will be evaluated by USTA National and Section staff in the order in which they are received, so APPLY EARLY! The deadline for applying for a Facility Recovery Grant is June 12, 2020.

If your facility application is approved, grants will be awarded at three levels: 4-7 courts—$2,000; 7-11 courts—up to $3,500; 12 or more courts—up to $5,000.

The USTA anticipates there will be more qualified applicants than available funds in this program, so even though your facility may meet all qualifications, it is not guaranteed that your facility will receive funding.

All tennis facilities—whether commercial, private or public—will be crucial to keeping tennis vital and growing as we all work to come out of this current crisis and overcome the challenges it presents. Apply now to help get your facility back in shape.

For more information and to apply for a USTA Facility Recovery Grant, click here.

For more information on resources and information to help your business through these unprecendented and challenging times, visit the Tennis Industry United website at tennisindustryunited.com.

Posted on May 5, 2020
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