Published May 29, 2024
MONROE, LA – The University of Louisiana Monroe is the latest recipient of a grant from the
state’s Entertainment Development Fund. The state university will receive $750,000
over three years to create opportunities for students interested in the film industry.
Specifically, the funds will support an in-house motion picture production studio
at the Clarke M. Williams Innovation Campus, to complement the Film and Media Arts
Concentration within the university’s Communications Degree program. In addition,
the studio will host filmmaking summer camps for high school students across the region.
“In Louisiana, creativity is our most abundant natural resource, and the Entertainment
Development Fund is designed to support educational and workforce training programs
to ensure that this state can meet the critical demands of the entertainment industry,”
said Chris Stelly, executive director of Louisiana Entertainment, a division of LED.
“With the help of this grant, ULM will educate and train students from high school
to college and beyond in the fundamentals of filmmaking in a studio production environment.
LED is excited to be a partner in this endeavor in northeast Louisiana.”
The Entertainment Development Fund supports the state’s entertainment workforce through
education and training programs. ULM will receive $250,000 a year from the fund for
three years, for a total of $750,000.
To prepare students for the dynamic entertainment industry, ULM will use the Entertainment
Development Fund grant to acquire state-of-the-art equipment that will give students
hands-on experience with the latest technology used in film production. ULM’s studio
space on the innovation campus houses ADR editing suites and greenscreen-equipped
sound stages, as well as professional office spaces and meeting rooms to support the
university’s workforce training initiatives and help attract entertainment industry
projects.
“ULM sincerely appreciates LED’s support of our efforts to enhance our academic programs
in communications and to meet the pipeline needs for well-educated employees for the
entertainment industry,” said Dr. Ron Berry, ULM President. “LED’s funding will provide
our faculty and students access to leading-edge technology that will help guide the
future development and success of the entertainment industry in Louisiana. We are
honored to be chosen as a partner with LED to help expand opportunities for high-paying
and rewarding jobs in Louisiana.”
Through the Entertainment Development Fund, LED has invested more than $7.5 million
to date in education and workforce development programs at higher education and nonprofit
institutions throughout Louisiana. The fund initiative earned top honors at the 2023
International Economic Development Council Awards ceremony in September, receiving
a Gold Award for Innovative Programs and Initiatives as well as a nomination for Best
in Show, recognizing the best economic development program in all categories.
About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business
environment and creating a more vibrant economy. In 2023, LED attracted more than $25 billion of capital investment resulting in the creation
of 19,000 potential new and retained jobs. Explore how LED cultivates jobs and economic
opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes at OpportunityLouisiana.com.
