New York’s film and television industry is one of the fastest growing sectors across the state. Since 2011, over 2,300 applications have been accepted into the New York State Film Tax Credit Program—for both production and post-production projects—generating an estimated $33 billion in economic activity and creating nearly 1.8 million hires.
That success has reinforced New York State’s commitment to ensure access to growth-related film industry jobs and opportunity— and to an industry that represents the state’s diversity.
To build on that commitment, a first-in-the-nation diversity workforce development fund program was announced in 2019 to support job training and workforce development across New York State’s entertainment industry. At the suggestion of industry leaders, this grant program is financed by an allocated percentage from New York State’s film tax credit program. The Grant Program provides grants for job creation and training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop and train a diverse and inclusive workforce for New York’s motion picture and television production and post-production industries.
Eligible programs include training in film and television editing and development. Proposed programs must address the Grant Program’s goals of providing opportunities for diverse workers and/or those located in economically distressed areas of New York State.
Eligible applications will be reviewed based on the proposed program’s ability to address the goals of the Grant Program, including the ability to:
- Further diversify the employment in the industry from a socio-economic, regional, and diversity perspective
- Target residents in economically distressed areas of the state
- Address a demonstrated need across the film and television production and post-production industries for additional workforce in this job function in these industries
- Create a pathway to permanent jobs and connections with employment and/or union partnerships
