The Stud and others get nightlife and entertainment grants

• The city's grant program aims to turn downtown San Francisco into a cultural hub by supporting nightlife and entertainment businesses.

Driving the news: Mayor London Breed's office Tuesday announced the recipients of grants worth up to $50,000 to put on events in downtown neighborhoods.

• The events will include concerts, theater performances, drag shows, street parties and more in new entertainment zones, where bars and restaurants can sell alcoholic beverages for outdoor consumption.
• The program is supported by the city's Office of Economic and Workforce Development and nonprofit SF New Deal's ENRG Grant program.

What they're saying: These zones "will bring a new energy" to San Francisco, Breed said in a press release.

• Rachel Ryan, president of the Stud Collective, said that "independent businesses like ours need all the help we can get right now as our industry is still recovering from the pandemic."

• The grant, Ryan added, "will get us one step closer to transforming a sports bar into the drag bar and dance club we have been working so hard to preserve!"

Follow the money: The grants are designed to be used for permitting costs, marketing, artist stipends and more, according to the mayor's office.

What we're watching: New downtown programming and activities could come online later in August.