The Film Partnership is one of five North Carolina organizations being recognized by Tom Perez, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Wilmington, NC – September 6, 2024 – The Film Partnership of North Carolina is proud to announce its recognition by the Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Tom Perez. The Film Partnership was launched due to significant investments made by the Biden Administration in the City of Wilmington and New Hanover County through the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as crucial, early investment from the City of Winston-Salem. This acknowledgment underscores the Film Partnership’s dedication to cultivating talent and providing crucial training opportunities in the rapidly evolving film production industry.
In 2021, the City of Wilmington allocated $400,000 in ARPA funds and New Hanover County appropriated $600,000 in ARPA funds to the Film Partnership of North Carolina for workforce development to support on-the-job training for film and production careers, with an emphasis on diversity. This has allowed citizens 18 years old and older in New Hanover County to work on-set at major productions locally and across the state. In partnership with our IATSE Local 491, so far we have funded over 140 interns and 35 local professional crew members with paid on-the-job training, to more than 12 film and/or television productions in the region. In 2023, the state of North Carolina provided an additional $500,000 to the Film Partnership and we have taken the program statewide as of January 2024.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from the White House,” said Susi Hamilton, CEO of the Film Partnership of North Carolina. “The investment from ARPA allowed us to launch our program. We’ve seen such great demand and interest that we have since extended our reach across the state. This visit by Mr. Perez demonstrates the success of the investment in our program as well as the rippling educational, economic, and community benefits.”
Since its inception, the Film Partnership has been dedicated to addressing the skills gap in the film industry by providing underrepresented individuals with the training and resources they need to secure meaningful employment. The Film Partnership has also been instrumental in providing connections and removing barriers to entering the industry, one of the major hurdles of success. The program’s expansion is a testament to its effectiveness and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the film sector.
“We believe our program is proof of the positive change that can occur when public and private sectors unite with a shared vision. We are proud that our program has provided so many interns the opportunity to establish new skills that will aid them on the path of their careers – whether in the film and television industry or beyond,” added Hamilton.
###
ABOUT THE FILM PARTNERSHIP OF NORTH CAROLINA
The Film Partnership of North Carolina is a NC 201c3 economic development organization, vocational education resource and advocate structured to grow the film, television, and digital streaming industry in North Carolina through collaboration, and to create a pipeline of a diverse, well-trained and inclusive workforce.
MEDIA CONTACT
Courtney Smallwood
FilmPartnershipofNC@gmail.com