New Jersey Film Works Grant Program is sponsored by New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Provides grants to workforce development initiatives in New Jersey's film and digital media industry.

NJ Film Works Grant Program - NJEDA NJ Film Works Grant Program The NJ Film Works Grant application is now closed. The NJ Film Works Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity that will award grants to support workforce development, training, and skills programs that strengthen and diversify the state’s film and digital media talent pipeline with a particular focus on NJ’s Overburdened Communities .

A total of $3 million is available for awards under this Grant Program. The minimum and maximum amounts for individual awards are set at $250,000 and $750,000, respectively. NJEDA anticipates making multiple awards for this grant program.

Applicants must submit proposals that outline compelling plans to: Implement a New Jersey based program that will allow New Jerseyans to access workforce opportunities in the film and digital media industry by providing tangible skills sought by employers.

Components of programs must include direct workforce training/skill development, and, where relevant, wraparound services such as access to career services, mentorship, family services (such as childcare, eldercare, or other similar services), counseling, transportation, etc. Connect with industry and other stakeholders to implement a program that prepares and connects participants with job opportunities in targeted industries in high-growth and in-demand occupations.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their proposed program will provide meaningful career opportunities through labor market research, employer and industry engagements, and other relevant analysis. Develop and/or utilize outreach, recruitment best practices, program design approaches, and wraparound supports that target and support a diverse and inclusive pool of training participants to successfully complete the program.

Define program evaluation and success metrics such as: recruitment, enrollment, completion, job placement, and learning acquisition targets. Reach and target New Jersey’s Overburdened Communities and provide opportunities for economic mobility for these communities.

Collect, track, and report programmatic data, including trainee demographics, trainee surveys, instructor evaluations, training enrollments and completions, and job placement and retention information. Execute the project efficiently and on schedule, achieving well-defined milestones to complete the proposed initiative.

The Grant Program will be open to entities that provide NJ residents with access to workforce development training, internship, apprenticeship, and learning opportunities for industry careers, with a particular focus on access for residents of Overburdened Communities.

Eligible applicants can include, but are not limited to, the following: Private workforce training organizations Community-based organizations For-profit film and digital media companies or consortium/associations of private film and digital media companies Educational institutions that have an executed MOU for film or digital media workforce training with NJEDA at the time of application are not eligible for this grant program.

Applicants may collaborate with additional entities to implement the training program as needed. However, the NJEDA will only award and enter into a grant agreement with the applicant entity. Applicants will be required to conduct workforce development training, internship, apprenticeship, and learning opportunities in at least 1 (one) but no more than 3 (three) eligible occupation(s).

Applicants must identify which eligible occupation(s) their initiative will concentrate on. Training programs must either be in-person or hybrid (include both a virtual component and an in-person component). The program must describe a clear approach to make the training accessible for and targeted to New Jersey residents and linked to New Jersey employment opportunities in film and digital media careers.

The minimum and maximum amounts for individual awards are set at $250,000 and $750,000 respectively. NJEDA anticipates making multiple awards in this grant challenge. Funds will be disbursed according to the following schedule: 30 percent of the grant will be disbursed following execution of a grant agreement between NJEDA and the selected applicant.

30 percent of the grant will be disbursed upon the applicant’s submission of a mid-program report and associated materials, with exact timing and format to be determined based on the grantee’s implementation plan and reflected in the grant agreement.

Up to 40 percent of the grant amount will be disbursed upon receipt of the final report no more than 120 calendar days after the end of the term of the grant and based upon the following: 10% of the grant amount following receipt of a satisfactory final report 10% of the grant amount pro-rated against the proposed number of participants enrolled, at least 25% of the proposed participants enrolled%* 10% of the grant amount pro-rated against the proposed number of participants completing the program, so long as at least 25% of the proposed participants completed the program* 10% of the grant amount pro-rated against the proposed number of program graduates placed in paid employment, internship, or apprenticeship within the industry or trained occupation, within 90 calendar days of program completion, so long as at least 25% of the proposed participants were placed* *Disbursements based on proposed project outcomes can be pro-rated, so long as the awardee documents it has met at least 25% of the proposed goal.

For example, a $500,000 grant is awarded based on the following proposed program outcomes: 100 participants enrolled, 80 participants completing the training, and 70 program graduates being placed into employment, paid internship, or apprenticeship in the film/digital media industry within 90 calendar days of the program completion.

The following illustrative payout scenarios can be calculated: Illustrative scenario 1: If the awardee demonstrates they met all three proposed outcomes, the grantee’s payout for each of those milestones would be $50,000 (10% of $500,000 for each milestone).

Illustrative scenario 2: If the awardee demonstrates they enrolled 100/100 participants, 75/80 completed the program, and 70/70 were placed, the grantees’ s payout for each of those milestones would be $50,000, $46,875 (based on meeting 93. 8% of the goal), and $50,000 respectively.

Illustrative scenario 3: If the awardee demonstrates they enrolled 80/100 participants, 60/80 completed the program, and 17/70 were placed, the grantee’s payout for each of those milestones would be $40,000 (based on meeting 80% of the goal), $37,500 (based on meeting 75% of the goal), and $0 (based on meeting less than 25% of the goal), respectively.

These dates are subject to change: 5/5/25: Notice of Funding Availability posted 5/12/25: Application Opens 5/15/25: Grant Program Webinar Held 6/12/25: Final date for applicants to submit grant program questions 6/26/25: Final Q&A posted 7/11/25: Applications Due at 5:00pm E. T sample application ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS For GRANT PROGRAM budget template Applicants are required to use the NJEDA provided Budget Template.

You may download it here or in the application . Grant Program Specifications Board Memo NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY SAMPLE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TEMPLATE Q&A INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS To submit questions, please email njfilmworks@njeda. gov .