Empire State Development And NBCUniversal Unveil New York State’s First Entertainment Industry Workforce Development Partnership

October 30, 2024

Empire State Development (ESD) and NBCUniversal today announced a new partnership designed to grow below-the-line career opportunities in the entertainment industry for New Yorkers. Graduates from programs funded by the State’s Career Readiness Entertainment Workforce (CREW) Diversity Grant Program, providing financial assistance in the form of grants for job training programs focused on geographic and economic diversity, will have an opportunity to participate in the company’s Below-the-Line Traineeship and work on NBCUniversal television productions filming in the state. This paid traineeship will give students and early career workforce an opportunity to gain the skills and hands-on experience needed to work on New York productions, strengthening the state’s film and television production industry. The partnership was announced by ESD Commissioner Hope Knight at the seventh New York State Multicultural Creativity Summit.

Empire State Development President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The film and television industry is more than just a contributor to New York State’s economy—it’s a driving force for future growth and innovation. By investing in workforce training programs, we're not just creating jobs; we're building careers and ensuring our students can seamlessly transition into positions that power this vital industry. We are proud to partner with NBCUniversal on this new effort to support these valuable programs that will support this important industry."

Created in partnership with IATSE Locals, NBCUniversal’s Below-the-Line Traineeship provides entry-level talent with meaningful, paid, on-the-job production experience such as props, grip/electric and set lighting. This includes talent from various socio-economic backgrounds, geographic locations, age groups, racial and ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community and veterans, among other communities. 

In this new partnership with Empire State Development, NBCUniversal will source qualified candidates from New York State-funded programs, including The Bronx Community College (BCC) Film Production Training program, LaGuardia Community College’s (LaGCC) Film Training Program, Pathways to Production Accounting for the Entertainment Industry Program and Grip and Electrical Training Program, and Art Craft NYC. Last year, two graduates from BCC’s Film Production Training Program were selected for roles in the Grip departments on NBC’s hit series Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU. Currently, five hires from New York State-funded programs, LaGCC Grip and Electrical Training Program and Art Craft NYC, are working on NBC’s Law & Order and Universal Television’s The Equalizer in the Grip, set decoration and props departments. 

The BCC Film Production training program served as the pilot for the State’s Entertainment Diversity Grant Program and focuses on training students in the film and television industry in IATSE Local 52 trade crafts. The LaGCC Film Training Program provides a path to employment for individuals in the film and television industry in IATSE Local 52 trade crafts such as the electrical and grip fields. The LaGCC Pathways to Production Accounting for the Entertainment Industry Program trains unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers for in-demand entertainment industry accounting jobs. The LaGCC Grip and Electrical Training Program trains underserved individuals in electrical, grip or property trades for employment in film and television. Art Craft NYC is a robust training program to help entry level individuals gain confidence on set and provide participants with the skills and support to become successful workers in the professional field.

NBCUniversal provides meaningful opportunities for people to gain hands-on experience in front of and behind the camera, and ultimately prepare them for careers in the industry, including on New York State productions. The NBCUniversal television production opportunities are managed by NBCU LAUNCH, the umbrella brand that houses the comprehensive workforce development efforts across NBCUniversal’s entertainment television portfolio. NBCU LAUNCH works with local industry partners to identify qualified candidates who are currently pursuing vocational education and training in their desired craft in preparation for a career in television. As a leading producer of content in New York, NBCUniversal works with various nonprofit organizations to source trainees for its productions. 

Bronx Community College Interim President Milton Santiago said, “Thanks to this exciting partnership made possible through the State’s Entertainment Diversity Grant Program and our Workforce Development Director Maddy Centeno, our BCC students are being offered hands-on opportunities to work on set with NBC Universal productions such as Law and Order, opening the door for continued work in the film industry.” 

LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams said, “LaGuardia Community College is pleased to be a part of this tremendous partnership with Empire State Development to bring workforce development training opportunities to New Yorkers. This program will support the recruitment and retention of diverse talent in New York’s motion picture and television production and post-production industries while working collaboratively with IATSE Local 52. Partnerships like this keep New York City industries thriving.” 

IATSE Local 52 President Dusty Klatt said, “As the backbone of the entertainment industry representing more than 4,500 Union sound technicians, electricians, medics, grips, and prop masters, we are pleased to support this partnership between New York State and NBCUniversal.  It is important to ensure that the next generation of Union workers have an opportunity for a meaningful career path now, and in the future.” 

Art Craft NYC Founder and Director Cheyenne Ford said, "Art Craft NYC is excited for the future of our local industry with thanks to NBCUniversal for continuing trainees' mentorship and education with the invaluable experience of learning on set from seasoned industry professionals. We hope programs like these continue to expand their impact as the door widens for diverse newcomers to learn necessary skills from the current generations of master technicians."

New York State’s Film and TV production industry generates millions of dollars in investment and supports thousands of production workers, caterers, hospitality workers, and small businesses in our communities every year. Additionally, unions help to ensure high wages, full benefits and robust protections in the Film and TV Production sector and these jobs are accessible to a wide range of New Yorkers, with 44 percent of jobs in the industry available to workers without a four-year degree. The industry is an important piece of New York State’s economy and according to the most recent independent evaluation, in 2021 and 2022, the film industry added over $18 billion in Real Gross Domestic Product and created more than 131,454 direct jobs.

The New York Career Readiness Entertainment Workforce (CREW) Diversity Grant Program is designed to incentivize job creation and training programs that support efforts to develop and train a diverse and inclusive workforce in the motion picture and television industry. The program makes 1:1 matching grants from $25,000 to $500,000 available to eligible programs in film and television development and editing. 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. The grant program is financed from a percentage of each production’s tax credit, providing grants for training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, and develop a talented and inclusive workforce for New York’s film and television production and post-production industries. Grant criteria is focused on economic and geographic diversity. Applications are being accepted here.

State Senator Michael Gianaris said, “The real benefit of New York’s successful film industry is in the opportunities it provides for working people throughout our state. This first-of-its-kind collaboration among organized labor, schools and industry leaders will increase those opportunities significantly and prove incredibly useful for our communities.”

State Senator Robert Jackson said, "This transformative partnership between Empire State Development, NBCUniversal, and IATSE Locals is a monumental stride in elevating New York's role as a leader in inclusive and diverse workforce development in the entertainment industry. By harnessing the potential of our homegrown talent and providing them with real, hands-on experience, we're not just supporting individual careers—we're invigorating our entire state's economy and cultural vibrancy. Together, we are setting the stage for a thriving, dynamic future in film and television production across New York."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, “New York is home to several of the premier film and television studios in the country, and New Yorkers should be first in line for the opportunities it provides. Programs such as LaGuardia Community College’s Film Training Program and the Bronx Community College Film Production Training Program prepare students to work at levels of production. The Entertainment Diversity Grant will help provide more underserved and underrepresented students with an entry point to their desired career pathway. This grant is another shining example of how New York continues to strengthen its higher education opportunities through public-private partnerships.”

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy said, “New York’s globally renowned entertainment industry is only as strong as its workers. New York’s new partnership with NBCUniversal and universities that have strong film production programs will ensure that our next generation of talent can grow their careers, remain here in New York, and partners with IATSE to ensure our entertainment workforce continues to expand. Our film industry generates billions of dollars and support thousands of workers, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this new opportunity offered to aspiring cinematographers, future film producers, and more.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said, "I'm happy to see Empire State Development and NBCUniversal coming together to create this great program for our students and young workforce who are interested in working in the entertainment industry. I hope to see our Queens community take full advantage of this program, so we can continue to make this industry as diverse as our people."

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said, "We are thrilled to announce this groundbreaking partnership between Empire State Development and NBCUniversal, which opens doors for New Yorkers in the entertainment industry. This initiative not only fosters diversity and inclusion but also equips our local talent with the skills they need to thrive in below-the-line production roles. As we support programs like the Bronx Community College Film Production Training Program, we are investing in our future storytellers and ensuring that our borough continues to be a vital hub for creativity and innovation in film and television. Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of our community."