Background image of Brooklyn Bridge. Text reads the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Supporting New York City's Creative Economy
Dear Friends, 

Longer days and warmer temperatures signal the arrival of annual celebrations of renewal and remembrance.

Against this backdrop, I’m pleased to share that the New York State budget for Fiscal Year 2023 (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023) includes economic development measures that will support arts, entertainment and nightlife throughout the state, including:  
•   Seed Funding for New Small Businesses - This initiative will provide flexible grants to support early stage, micro and small businesses, including for-profit arts and cultural organizations and independent arts contractors, like musicians. Applications are open now.
•    Empire State Digital Gaming Media Production Credit – This new tax credit provides a total of up to $5 million per year to digital games made in New York. The NYS Empire State Development Corporation will administer the tax credit.  
•    Extension and Enhancement of the NYC Musical and Theatrical Production Tax Credit –The budget Increases the tax credit from $100 million to $200 million and extends the application period through June 30, 2023.
•    Empire State Film Production Credit and the Empire State Film Post Production Credit – The budget extends the tax credit to 2029 and requires applicants to file a diversity plan with the Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development. 
In addition, the budget supports nightlife by allowing the sale of to-go drinks, establishing the Commission to Study Reform of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, and more.  

In other good news, our colleagues at the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) announced that FY 2023 Cultural Development Fund applications are now live and due Monday, May 16, 2022, at 5:00 PM. This year’s CDF process will integrate a range of new, equity-based reforms focused on increasing access to public funding for cultural groups across the city. To help groups navigate the reformed process, DCLA Programs Unit's expanded technical assistance offerings will include webinars (live and recorded); office hours to provide dedicated time for organizations’ questions; weekly email updates during the open application period; and rolling FAQ updates based on questions and feedback from the cultural sector. Webinars will start the week of April 11; office hours will start the week of April 18. All information about the application process and available technical assistance is available at on.nyc.gov/CDFapply.

MOME will be hosting two webinars in the coming weeks: 
•   Thursday, April 21, 2022, 12pm-1pm: COVID Safety De-escalation Training for Theatres, Cultural & Hospitality Businesses presented in partnership with Creative Conflict Resolution at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and MOME’s Office of Nightlife will offer free training on public conflict resolution and a Q&A about mask/vaccine guidance. Register at: bit.ly/conflictresolutionwebinar.  

•    Thursday, April 28, 2022, 11am-12pm: Connecting to New York Talent: Becoming a Summer Youth Employment Program Partner. Presented in partnership with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, this session for employers in arts, entertainment and hospitality will offer information on how to work with community-based partners to development a meaningful six week internship experience (in-person, remote, or hybrid), for a high school or college student, all paid for by the City of New York. Employers large and small can be part of NYC’s economic recovery, connect to hyper-local talent, foster mentorship skills among employees, and gain fresh perspectives from the workforce of the future. Registration information will be available soon on MOME’s social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
REMINDER: Tax Day is next Monday, April 18. Workers who earn $72,000 or less can file with NYC Free Tax Prep. Learn more about Free Tax Prep at nyc.gov/taxprep.   

New York State and City offer resources to help the Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York. Ukrainians in the USA who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status can contact the NYS New Americans Hotline for free legal assistance at 1-800-566-7636 and find information about services to immigrants from the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the New York State Office for New Americans. Allies can learn about how to donate to relief organizations on the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City’s webpage. And learn how to avoid and report charity scams involving aid to Ukraine on the Governor’s website.   
 
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For the latest updates, sign up for MOME’s newsletter, follow our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or visit our website at www.nyc.gov/mome.
Stay safe and stay NYC strong,  

Anne del Castillo, Commissioner
The City of New York
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
www.nyc.gov/mome
@NYCMOMECommish
Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
nyc.gov/mome

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