The $150,000 grant will leverage workforce development, tourism, and creative industry infrastructure to attract film production and position Central Pennsylvania as a hub for the Commonwealth’s creative sector.
State College, PA – On Saturday, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) attended the Centre Film Festival Industry Brunch at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University campus to award a $150,000 Innovation & Impact grant to launch the Happy Valley Film Commission (HVFC). PCA’s program allows grantees to leverage seed funds to spur local partnerships and launch first-of-its-kind projects that stand the potential to be gamechangers for the grantee organization and surrounding community.
The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance and Happy Valley Adventure will launch the Commission to address the lack of coordinated production support and workforce pathways in rural and mid-sized communities located outside the Commonwealth’s larger metropolitan markets.
“Seeding development of the Happy Valley Film Commission with an Innovation and Impact Grant is an exciting opportunity to invest in Central Pennsylvania’s creative economy and workforce,” said Jamie Dunlap, PCA’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Under Governor Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Film Office, we have seen great strides in the growth and development of the state’s film industry. We are proud to continue that support through this investment and look forward to seeing this creative ecosystem grow in central Pennsylvania.”
Supported by this funding, HVFC will combine workforce development, tourism, and creative industry infrastructure to attract increased film production. The Commission will work across a three-year plan to conduct regional stakeholder meetings, build resource databases, establish economic impact tracking, and expand workforce training programs to ultimately attract film production and position Central Pennsylvania as a hub for the Commonwealth’s film-ready, creative sector.
"Happy Valley has the talent, locations, and community support to grow a lasting film industry,” said Pablo Lopez, Certified Film Commissioner for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and Happy Valley Film Commission. “This investment will help us attract productions and connect local people to the training and opportunities they need to build careers here.”
PCA’s Innovation & Impact Grant Program is designed to support new, multi-year strategies that empower, connect, and amplify creatives and creative industries and their contributions to Pennsylvania’s communities, economy, and workforce. In its first year, the program has awarded more than $1.2 million to nine creative projects, including the Happy Valley Film Commission.