There’s some money available from a foundation to help community radio stations in the United States pay their electric bills.
The Sun Radio Foundation, based in Austin, Texas, has announced a “Sun Radio Recharge” COVID-19 relief program. It is a nonprofit organization for the arts that aims to preserve the heritage of Texas music, support community radio and have minimal impact on the environment by using solar power. There are 12 stations in its network.
The foundation said it will accept applications from community and noncommercial radio stations nationwide for one-time gifts of up to $250 each. These are intended for stations that don’t have Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding or tax-payer subsidies. Here’s the application.
[Read more Radio World coverage of community radio issues.]
In the announcement, Daryl O’Neal, executive director and founder of the foundation, said, “Local musicians and the community radio stations who play their music are struggling. Many small, independent community radio stations do not receive any tax-payer funded ‘public radio’ stipends through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.”
He said that hundreds of community stations won’t receive any of the $75 million in COVID relief funding given to the CPB.
A separate program helps local area musicians and crew members who are struggling to pay electric bills.
The foundation also is accepting donations for this relief program at https://secure.donationpay.org/sunradio/.
