Vermont Arts Council seeks stable state match, $120,000 for film/media workforce database

Susan Evans McCour, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, briefed the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee on Feb. 25 on the council’s budget, federal match needs and a $120,000 proposal to develop a film and creative‑media workforce resource.

Evans McCour said the Arts Council is the state arts agency affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts and operates as an independent nonprofit; the NEA award requires a dollar‑for‑dollar state match. She described federal funding uncertainty and its downstream effects on grants and reimbursements, and said the council has shifted to monthly federal reimbursement requests to reduce cash‑flow risk.

Budget request and federal match Evans McCour said the Arts Council’s anticipated federal award estimate was $1,071,800 and that the governor’s recommended state match in the budget was $1,003,063. She told the committee the council awarded just over $3,200,000 in FY 2024 in grant funding that reached every county in the state and emphasized the economic impact of the creative sector.

Film and creative‑media workforce proposal The Arts Council is seeking $120,000 to create and seed an online database of film and creative‑media assets and contacts, and to fund part‑time staff time to maintain the resource and to measure its impact. Evans McCour described the aim as increasing local production by making it easier for producers and businesses to find Vermont‑based crews, equipment and contacts: “We want people to know where they can access the assets they need, who is working, who is available to be hired,” she said. The proposal would partner with Vermont Production Collective and Vermont Access Network and align with the state’s workforce development office.

Better Places and creative placemaking Evans McCour also reminded the committee of the Arts Council’s role in the Better Places creative placemaking program, administered by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development, which requires local matching and funds projects statewide.

Next steps Committee members asked for clarifications about federal match timing and the council’s contingency plans if federal awards change. The Arts Council said it would work with Senate appropriations and the committee as federal numbers are finalized and asked lawmakers to consider the one‑time $120,000 investment as part of broader economic development planning. No appropriation vote occurred on Feb. 25.