Unlike restaurants or stores that could offer carryout or limited service, concert venues were shut down entirely by the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of delay, a $16 billion federal relief program has started releasing funds, but venue operators say they need the money now. (File photo by Natalie Griffin) WASHINGTON – Federal officials have awarded $45.3 million in COVID-19 relief funds to 68 Arizona concert venues, a vast improvement over the single grant awarded a month ago but still far short of the need, advocates say. The Arizona funding was part of the $3.2 billion awarded as of Tuesday by the Small Business Administration under the $16 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.