New York
Workforce Investment Grants

In October, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) will announce the first group of grantees of a new program helping nonprofit arts organizations create new or expand existing staff positions. The Workforce Investment Program (see page 31) awards two-year grants totaling $12,500 – $49,500 ($6,250 – $24,750/year) to arts groups with annual budgets of less than $500,000. Funds are to partially cover wages, and they may be used to increase an employee’s hours or to hire a new full- or part-time staffer. Because the program aims to help nonprofits fill critical roles, applicants must demonstrate need for the staff position and also must have a sustainability plan to maintain it after the end of the grant term. According to NYSCA, the launch of this salary support program was met with a tremendous response and many applications from the arts community. NYSCA hopes to support 30 new full- or part-time jobs through the program. The program is connected to the Regional Economic Development Council, a statewide, community-focused effort to create jobs and strengthen the economy that is administered by various New York agencies. For more information on the Workforce Investment Program, contact NYSCA Executive Assistant Liz McAleer.