New York – The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) today announced $500,000 available through a new training grant program for small businesses in media and entertainment. The “Made in NY” Media Employee Training (MET) Program will help companies grow their businesses and enter new markets by training employees in the newest technologies and platforms. Approximately $65,000 has already been awarded to two businesses. Bureau Blank and TangentVector will train 19 staff members and increase their revenues by approximately $1.03 million. The awards will be matched by $28,000 from the employers.

“Since launching in 2005, our NYC Business Solutions Customized Training Grant program has awarded over $9 million to help more than 150 companies train over 5,000 workers,” said Rob Walsh, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “We are happy to partner with MOME and use our expertise to specifically help small businesses train employees and expand in the fast growing media and entertainment industry.”

“With 25 New York City based primetime episodic series and 188 films in 2011, New York City is a leading center of production. We are thrilled to work with SBS to continue to help small businesses in the media and entertainment industry grow through the “Made in NY” Media Employee Training program,” said Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

MET grants cover up to 70 percent of training costs, including external training providers, trainee and internal instructor wages, training facilities, and books and materials. Grants primarily support businesses engaging in training for the following reasons: investment in new equipment or software; investment in new products or markets; teaching employees to perform new or different jobs; updating obsolete skills or teaching advanced occupational skills. Applicants are judged based upon their ability to impact economic activity in New York City. 

The first two MET grants were awarded to:

• Bureau Blank: Located in Chinatown, Bureau Blank works with companies and organizations to build strong brands and grow them through the creation of a wide range of media from digital to print to motion and 3D. The company will use a $27,240 award to train 12 staff members in advanced web development, design, brand strategy, and management skills. 
• TangentVector: Tangent Vector, a Manhattan-based digital advertising, marketing and video production firm since 2009, serves clients in the automobile industry, including McLaren North America and Porsche Cars North America, and is executive producer of YouTube’s DRIVE Original Content Channel. The company will use a $38,224 award to train 7 staff members in post-production, on-camera, and management skills.

$435,000 in funding for training is still available. Businesses interested in applying should go to www.nyc.gov/training or call 311.