TEC Digital Media Community Grant

Overview

The Tennessee Digital Media Community Grant is a competitive 50%-50% matching grant for nonprofits, local governments, educational institutions & private entities working to advance identified strategic areas of the emerging Interactive Digital Media & Creative Technology industry in Tennessee. 

What is Interactive Digital Media / Creative Technology?

All grant awards must demonstrate anticipated outcomes accelerating growth, increasing industry activity or yielding job creation or interactive digital media or creative technology industry expansion or relocation for one or more of the following target industry sub-sectors: Music or Audio Technology; Digital or Streaming Content Distribution; Animation & VFX; Video Game Development or Gamified Platforms; Education Technology or Digital Learning Applications; Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) or Mixed Reality (MR); Esports.

What is the contract period?

The contract period will be 12 – 24 months depending on the nature of the project; an initial portion of the contract timeline will be for project implementation, with a second portion for reporting & observation (Note:  these portions may overlap at certain periods).

How much can you apply for?

The TEC anticipates funding between 4-6 total grants in the $15,000 to $30,000 range (total project costs including grant award plus required matching funds would equal at least $30,000 to $60,000, respectively).  The maximum eligible grant request will be $40,000 (total project cost of at least $80,000).  

Additional Considerations

• The grant application must be submitted and administered by the sponsoring nonprofit organization, local government, educational entity or private business entity.
• Partnerships, collaborative work and leveraging funds are encouraged!
• The TEC Digital Media Community Grant is a reimbursable grant program. That means you spend the money as agreed upon for eligible activities; submit respective receipts and other documentations then we reimburse you.
• Participating organizations will be required to submit proper documentation of all grant expenditures. Failure to follow specified uses or accounting requirements may result in loss of program participation and/or dollars.
• All expenditures must take place within the timeframe of the grant period as designated by the grant contract.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to align as a formal Mission Partner of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, where relevant.  Information on that process may be accessed here: www.CreateTN.com
• All applicants are required to register an organizational profile on the Tennessee Entertainment Commission’s statewide Create_Here creative technology resource directory, where relevant, accessible at: www.CreateTN.com