FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA STUDIO INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
The application window for the Film & Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program closed on October 19, 2023 at 5PM.
The Film & Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program is a pilot program that will provide grants to municipalities, municipal entities, counties, county entities, and/or State instrumentalities for infrastructure improvements and sitework in support of the development of a film or digital media studio production facility.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The Film & Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program (“Program”) is a competitive grant program that will proactively deploy $9.5 million to fund infrastructure improvements and sitework (“Project”) connected to or in support of the development of a film or digital media studio production facility. The Program is established to stimulate economic growth and enhance the State’s long-term economic competitiveness by supporting and encouraging strategic economic development investments in the designated Film & Digital Media industry target sector.
On June 30, 2022, Governor Murphy signed the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Act (“Act”) into law. The Act allocates significant State funding for numerous strategic economic development investments to support key industries, advance the innovation economy, continue to bolster recovery, and spur statewide growth. These strategic investments include $15 million for a Film Industry Strategic Support Fund to grow and strengthen the state’s film and digital media industry, including attracting film studio production facilities to the state and expanding job opportunities. The Film Industry Strategic Support Fund is utilizing that budget line-item appropriation to provide funding to create the Film & Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible applicants are municipalities, municipal entities, counties, county entities, and/or State instrumentalities that are undertaking infrastructure improvements or sitework to support the development of a film or digital media studio production facility.
Additional applicant requirements:
- Must be in substantial good standing with the New Jersey Department Labor and Workforce Development and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection at the time of application to be eligible. A current tax clearance certificate must be provided prior to approval to demonstrate the applicant is in substantial good standing with the NJ Division of Taxation, unless the applicant is not required to register with the Division of Taxation.
FUNDING USE
Eligible uses of Program funding are limited to infrastructure improvements and sitework in support of the development of a film or digital media studio production facility, which include but are not limited to:
- Roadwork or transportation improvements
- Water and/or sewer lines/service
- Gas lines/service
- Telecommunications
- High speed broadband
- Electrical utility lines/grid/supply
- Accessibility and safety improvements (i.e. sidewalks, fire hydrants)
- Site remediation or site work on government owned property
Funding can only be used for the approved project costs, including reasonable administrative costs, based on application, Authority review, and funding grant agreement.
All projects will be subject to prevailing wage law and compliance with other labor standards requirements.
AWARD SIZE
In accordance with the Economic Recovery Fund statute (N.J.S.A. 34:1B-7.13), the Film & Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Program funding is provided as Grant financial assistance to municipalities, municipal entities, counties, county entities, and/or State instrumentalities for the Program Purpose and Eligible Uses indicated.
Minimum grant amount — $50,000 provided to any one applicant or Project
Maximum grant amount — $4,750,000 provided to any one applicant or Project
Grant funding may fund 100% of an approved Project’s costs.
If the approved Film or Digital Media Studio Infrastructure Project has not been completed and the supported studio production facility has been terminated (for example, applicable redevelopment agreement is terminated, site plan approvals are denied or expire), the applicant will no longer be eligible for any remaining unused grant funds.
FUNDING DISBURSEMENTS
Once a project is approved for funding, the Authority will enter into a Grant Agreement with the Applicant detailing the project to be funded, eligible project costs, the amount of grant funding, and all financial programmatic requirements.
The grant funds will be disbursed either incrementally as eligible project expenses are incurred and prorated with other funding sources if applicable with the Authority’s standard construction retainage withheld until project completion or grant funds may be disbursed in coordination with other funder’s disbursement process if applicable.
Funding disbursement requests must be evidenced by documentation supporting that the expenses were incurred, work has been performed in accordance with prevailing wage and affirmative action requirements, and work was done consistent with project approval and eligible uses of program funding.
Final payment to be made upon the Authority’s inspection of completed project and receipt of certificate of completion.
PROGRAM GUIDE
QUESTIONS
All questions should be submitted in writing to realestateinfo@njeda.gov. The NJEDA will post answers to these questions on this page under Frequently Asked Questions.