New Jersey Film Works Grant Program

The NJ Film Works Grant Program, administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), aims to support and develop New Jersey's film and digital media workforce. This competitive grant initiative is backed by a total funding pool of $3 million and is designed to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline with a specific emphasis on Overburdened Communities. Eligible programs must provide tangible, employer-demanded skills, and facilitate access to workforce development, internships, apprenticeships, and training opportunities in the film and digital media sectors. Applicants are expected to propose comprehensive, New Jersey-based programs that include direct skill development and, where applicable, wraparound services such as career counseling, childcare, transportation, and other forms of support. The grant encourages connection with industry stakeholders to ensure that participants are being trained for high-demand roles and are linked with actual employment opportunities. Proposals must also incorporate diverse recruitment strategies and support systems to ensure inclusivity and successful program completion for a broad spectrum of participants. To ensure accountability and effective use of funds, applicants must define clear success metrics including enrollment, completion rates, job placement, and learning outcomes. Data tracking and reporting are required on aspects such as demographics, surveys, training outcomes, and job placements. Selected programs must show efficiency in execution with scheduled milestones and a strong plan to achieve all outlined objectives within the grant period. Funding amounts for this program range between $250,000 and $750,000 per award. Disbursement of funds will be milestone-based, with 30 percent issued upon execution of the grant agreement, another 30 percent following a mid-program report, and the remaining 40 percent tied to final report submission and achievement of predefined performance outcomes. These outcomes include enrollment, completion, and job placement metrics, with partial payouts allowable based on reaching at least 25 percent of set goals. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, labor unions, community-based groups, private training entities, educational institutions (with some exclusions), and for-profit film and digital media companies or associations. Entities already holding an executed Memorandum of Understanding with NJEDA for film or digital media workforce training are not eligible. Programs may be conducted in-person or through a hybrid format but must clearly demonstrate accessibility for New Jersey residents and direct linkage to local employment opportunities. The grant program is currently open, and applications must be submitted through NJEDA’s official portal. While specific application questions are not listed in the public summary, prospective applicants are encouraged to participate in informational webinars offered by NJEDA for guidance. The contact address for NJEDA is PO Box 990, Trenton, NJ 08625-0990, with physical offices at 36 West State Street, Trenton. For inquiries, applicants may contact the authority by phone at (844) 965-1125.