May 2020
SURVEY
Regarding the May 1 USTA message:
APPLICATION FOR USTA FACILITY RECOVERY GRANTS
TO GO LIVE ON MAY 4


May 2020
SURVEY
Regarding the May 1 USTA message:
APPLICATION FOR USTA FACILITY RECOVERY GRANTS
TO GO LIVE ON MAY 4
1. Analysis by Gary Horvath
Summary
The highest concentration of answers were from California, Florida, Midwest, Southern, and New England sections.
One-third of the facilities represented private clubs and 21% represented both commercial and parks and recreation facilities. The remaining 25% represented universities, schools, resorts, and other facilities.
Surprisingly only 62% applied for the USTA grants.
The most common reasons for not applying were that people did not think they would be chosen to receive a grant and they were not aware of the grant. A smaller number of respondents indicated they did not qualify for the grant or the grant did not meet their needs. A majority of the people who responded “other” indicated they had applied for the grant.
The most common grant request was for balls and equipment followed by no-touch items and cleaning services. Many applied for a combination of the above items.
At the time the survey was conducted, over 60% of the respondents had not received a response, 11% had been rejected, and 1% had been rejected. The remaining respondents typically expressed varying degrees of uncertainty about where their grant was in the process.
The most common level of assistance was $3,500 to $5,000 followed by $2000 to $3,500 and $2,000 or less.
A majority of the assistance was deemed extremely valuable or fairly valuable. Only a small percentage felt it had little value. The remainder either had not applied or were uncertain about the outcome.
Executive Summary
The major take-aways from the survey are the USTA’s efforts are appreciated and the assistance will be helpful; however, there were respondents who indicated their situation caused them to need more assistance. The most common response was for assistance with balls and equipment and cleaning supplies.
Numerous respondents were not aware of the program. Others indicated there was a backlog in processing, which is to be expected given similar backlogs for PPP and SBA loans and unemployment.
By definition, the grant did not accommodate smaller facilities, independent contractors, and private clubs. That was noted in the responses.
The following are a group of individual comments that show the diversity of responses and emotions. I think in some ways the open-ended comments tell as good of a story as the data.
It is a nice gesture, but only a token effort ... there is just not enough money to do what really needs to be done.
Nice gesture, who knows what we are in for when we get the approval to open again.
Very valuable if we qualify for the grant.
Not enough information. For example, as a private country club, I simply believed the grant should go to parks and stand alone tennis clubs, even though we could have used some major help.
Since I didn't know it existed, they might want to use more capital letters, or put that directly in the subject line of the email.
The USTA has done a tremendous job in this COVID timeframe.
The USTA took action to the extent they could, and are trying to make some positive impact.
USTA, USPTA and PTR and local sections should be able to help out at a higher value as some of us could be closed for 2-3 months with no income. Our facility will lose up to 200k in revenues during this time.
I think this was a thoughtful process. It could always be more, but this is an unprecedented situation to which they are responding in multiple ways.
Any clubs that carry debt service will likely struggle to survive. Tennis alone is not as profitable in colder climates and fitness, which often carries tennis, will not be able to support due to the lack of ability to service larger numbers of people per square foot. Monthly expenses are in the thousands and the USTA is kind to offer assistance, but their offerings are analog to putting a bandaid on gushing wound...
Need a small grant for independent pros at private courts
We have 2 courts, may not receive anything.
it's much better than going w/o.... Nobody else is doing anything...
Any assistance provided is not required. It is being done out of care and kindness. It is a gift - one should be thankful for aide/help.
We are going to use the funds for other stuff besides just cleaning supplies; example new equipment as we feel and have been told my our customers they'd feel better with new equipment and no touch items; also adding hand sanitizer on the court as well and in the pro shop
The process went very smoothly
We are in a section with a high number of applications with many being made by clubs, etc, that do not have a USTA affiliation, so there is a delay in awarding grants.
Disband mid Atlantic section !
USTA recovery grant is a nice idea but USTA has too many issues to be assisting other funds as the USTA has been stagnant for almost a decade in funds for the sport.
Try to work something out for independent contractors who teach full time but not at a certain club. We are struggling to and pay taxes just like everyone else.
2. Detailed Survey Replies
QUESTION 1
QUESTION 2

COMMENTS
Sorry. I want to see the questionnaire, but don't run a facility. I'm a programmer without a set base.
community facility
Private residence
Self employed, college coach (mens and womens), summer camp director.
private court
Tennis Academy
Independent Contractor
Public non membership facility
hy-brid: private in the morning, open to public beginning at noon each day
Independent Contractor
QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

COMMENTS
I applied.
We applied
Please delete this user response from your tally.
not sure as was not my decision to make so not sure if we applied or not
Our club received the PPP from the SBA
Owners tennis curtís
I work at the USTA National Campus
N/A
We applied
We felt that the money should go to more needy clubs. We are OK
We applied
We did
Initially I didn't think our private club qualified but looking further into the information I noticed we were eligible. It was not clear up front.
We applied.
We applied and were granted the PPP loan, as well as applied for a grant offered through the City of St Pete.
Our staff is all on base salary and commissions for instruction. They kept their salaries and did maintenance on the facility. Also I convinced city Admin to pay commissions based on last years lesson income. Worked well moral very high as we have reopened about a week ago for singles play only. Doubles will start on the 18th and private lesson June 1st followed by clinics around June 15th. Management thought our staff was very important to keep and hit the ground running as soon as everyone was back on court.
we applied
Not interested
Should be available for independent contractors
QUESTION 5

COMMENTS
all of the above
It was a nice gesture, but not enough to make a difference ...
All of the above
Did not qualify
$500 grant for loss of business
All of the above
Balls, cleaning,& no touch items
none
balls no touch cleaning
N/A
All of the above
To help pay for a new clay court roller
None
Did not know about this program
Na
Didn’t apply
All balls and court equipment and Sanitation
all of the above
N/A
N/A
Did not apply
All
QUESTION 6

COMMENTS
NA
I chose to not apply so that others might have a better chance
Did not qualify
we qualified for it, waiting for nationals to notify us the amount and when we'll receive itT
waiting for answer
Not applied
noneT
Message saying they received my application
Not sure they filed for a grant. I am a member for my lifetime. (was an officer for 15 years)
N/AT
Unaware of Program
N/A
Did not know about this
Na
Didn’t apply
Confirmation that it was received
no aware
N/A
N/A
Did not apply
na
QUESTION 7

COMMENTS
Have not heard.
0
0
Haven't received reply
DNQ
not sure
Did not receive any acknowledgment that that they received the grant application
Nothing
none
N/A
Haven’t heard back
Unaware of USTA Grant Program
Haven’t heard
N/A
Haven't heard back yet.
Did not know about this
Na
Didn’t apply
N/A
haven't received yet
N/A
Did not apply
na
QUESTION 8

COMMENTS
not sure yet
Na
Have not heard yet if we will receive the grant so can't say. For some I think it is very helpful/necessary so hope it gets to the ones that need it the most. Usually not!!!
It is a nice gesture, but only a token effort ... there is just not enough money to do what really needs to be done.
Please delete this user's response.
I think that any help is good but there should be a stronger $ amount for help.
Need one for micro clubs
not aware of grant
Nice gesture, who knows what we are in for when we get the approval to open again.
Don’t know as we haven’t been confirmed or denied It is just seems to be in cyberspace
would be better question for corporate office
NA
dont know as of yet
Makes sense to put three because I qualify for
N/A
Since I didn't know it existed, they might want to use more capital letters, or put that directly in the subject line of the email.
Valuable if we get it
Unaware of Program
To be determined
Very valuable if we qualify for the grant.
It's great in theory, and we hope in practice -- IF we get the grant. Of course, we hope all deserving applicants get the grant they need and deserve.
Unknown...as our PPP grant is fluid, as we speak...things are changing from the time applied and received the grant.
Not enough information. For example, as a private country club, I simply believed the grant should go to parks and stand alone tennis clubs, even though we could have used some major help.
Didn’t apply
extremely valuable if we receive a grant. it would be much appreciated
Did not apply
Don't know yet... will wait till we are approved or denied to make that judgement.
I was hoping for a grant. We haven’t heard anything
Don't know about it.
QUESTION 9


COMMENTS
The USTA has done a tremendous job in this COVID timeframe.
The grant would be first used for sanitary reasons. Next for equipment for our Jr. Program. Supplies etc. My question for you - Who else is offering to help? I'm grateful for their offer.
No
The USTA took action to the extent they could, and are trying to make some positive impact.
Not at this time
I only answered so I could see what questions were asked. The grants are essentially handouts. If a club doesn't like free money, what more can they realistically expect?
No
USTA, USPTA and PTR and local sections should be able to help out at a higher value as some of us could be closed for 2-3 months with no income. Our facility will lose up to 200k in revenues during this time.
I think this was a thoughtful process. It could always be more, but this is an unprecedented situation to which they are responding in multiple ways.
Any clubs that carry debt service will likely struggle to survive. Tennis alone is not as profitable in colder climates and fitness, which often carries tennis, will not be able to support due to the lack of ability to service larger numbers of people per square foot. Monthly expenses are in the thousands and the USTA is kind to offer assistance, but thier offerings are analog to putting a bandaid on gushing wound...
No
Need a small grant for independent pros at private courts
We have 2 courts, may not receive anything.
it needs to happen faster, expedite the process
it's much better than going w/o.... Nobody else id doing anything...
USTA is great
Not aware of the grant
Not at this time
Thanks for your interest
keep up the good work!
Want to use the grant money to replace the teaching pros balls in their baskets.
iPhone 6509243085
Any assistance provided is not required. It is being done out of care and kindness. It is a gift - one should be thankful for aide/help.
N/A
I told a local public facility that really needs the help about it and hope that they can take advantage of it.
We are going to use the funds for other stuff besides just cleaning supplies; example new equipment as we feel and have been told my our customers they'd feel better with new equipment and no touch items; also adding hand sanitizer on the court as well and in the pro shop
The process went very smoothly
Have to check with the board of the organization.
When will we find out?
Can we still get any money?
Do a better job on these surveys
We are in a section with a high number of applications with many being made by clubs, etc, that do not have a USTA affiliation, so there is a delay in awarding grants.
Yes. I, Paul Fein, am a Board Member of the Springfield Tennis Club, which maintains the eight public clay courts at Forest Park. However, the City of Springfield (Mass.) owns the tennis courts. The City of Springfield is the entity that actually applied for the USTA Recovery Grant.
No
Disband mid Atlantic section !
Didn’t comment on USTA program because we didn’t apply.
Thankful for USTA and all they are doing to help the facilities.
I am interested if available.
Nope, thank you~
USTA recovery grant is a nice idea but USTA has too many issues to be assisting other funds as the USTA has been stagnant for almost a decade in funds for the sport.
do you have an estimated response time? good or not so good?
No
Try to work something out for independent contractors who teach full time but not at a certain club. We are struggling to and pay taxes just like everyone else.
No
Our district office really helped us and kept us informed.
No