EnterpriseSeattle awarded $1.2 million to promote interactive media sector

EnterpriseSeattle announced it has received a federal grant that should help Seattle and King County maintain its leadership in the vibrant interactive media industry. Here’s the announcement:

September
27, 2011, Seattle, WA — enterpriseSeattle, formerly known as the Economic
Development Council for Seattle and King County, today announced that it was
awarded $1.2 million in federal funding through the Federal Jobs and Innovation
Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition launched in May to support
the advancement of 20 high-growth, regional industry clusters. The funding
received from the Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration,
Department of Labors Employment & Training Administration, and the Small
Business Administration will go to the establishment of the Washington
Interactive Media Accelerator (WIMA) and the furthering of enterpriseSeattles
Washington Interactive Network (WIN) targeted at supporting the interactive
media industry in Washington State.

The
interactive media industry in Washington State currently has more than 150
companies that employ more than 15,000 people, said Jeff Marcell, President
and CEO of enterpriseSeattle. The funding provided by this grant will
allow us to continue our work in support of the interactive media industry,
creating an accelerator and programs that will continue to attract jobs and
capital investment to our region.

Since 2007,
the interactive media industry has experience more than a 33 percent increase
in the number of employees in the Seattle Metropolitan region, despite a
challenging economy. The WIMA will provide support services to assist new
startup, provide internships and other professional training opportunities,
collaborate on improved curriculum development and mentoring, and provide both
a common physical space and virtual portal that will foster and maintain new
business and potential employees.

Washington
State has become a global leader in the interactive media industry, a sector
that is quickly changing the worldwide landscape of entertainment, information
and commerce, said Kristina Hudson, Business Development Manager,
enterpriseSeattle, and Director, Washington Interactive Network. This grant
will allow us to further the programs weve developed as part of the Washington
Interactive Network, and build on the ongoing partnerships that we have in
place with industry and other non-profit and public organizations.