# Minor League Baseball Relief Act: What You Need to Know

This bill creates a financial assistance program for minor league baseball teams that were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government would provide grants (money that doesn't need to be repaid) to help these teams cover their operating costs during the crisis period.

**Who gets the money and how much?** Minor league baseball clubs and independent professional baseball teams that meet certain requirements can apply for grants. To qualify, a team must have been operating before the pandemic hit and seen its 2020 revenues drop to 25 percent or less of what it made in 2019. The grant amount would be based on 45 percent of what the team earned in 2019, up to a maximum of $10 million per team. Teams that continued struggling through mid-2021 could potentially receive a second grant worth 50 percent of their first grant. The bill sets aside $550 million total for this program, with up to $50 million reserved specifically for independent professional leagues.

**What can teams spend the money on?** Teams can use grants to pay employee salaries, rent on their stadiums, utility bills, mortgage payments, insurance, maintenance costs, and other ordinary business expenses. They can also use funds to pay off debts that existed before the pandemic. However, teams cannot use the money to buy property, pay off loans taken out after February 2020, make political contributions, or invest the funds elsewhere.

**How long do teams have to use the money?** Teams must spend their grants between March 2020 and December 2021. If they receive a second grant, they get until September 2022. Any money not spent within the allowed timeframe must be returned to the government. The bill also requires the Small Business Administration to audit these grants and investigate any misuse, with teams potentially having to repay funds if they violate the rules.

Minor League Baseball Relief Act

Matsui, Doris O.

Minor League Baseball Relief Act This bill establishes a program for the relief of certain minor league baseball clubs and independent professional baseball clubs that experienced large business losses. The bill provides funding for the Small Business Administration to make grants to such clubs that experienced decreases in gross revenue in 2020 of at least 75%, as measured against revenues in 2019 (or, if revenues were negatively affected by a natural disaster or weather disruption in 2019, by the average of revenues over the prior three-year period). The source of funding for the grants shall be funds appropriated under enacted COVID-19 relief legislation that have not been obligated and are no longer being used to carry out activities authorized under those laws. Grant amounts provided to any club may not exceed $10 million.