We were awarded a 2018 “Building Communities” grant for $25,000, from the State of Vermont. Administered through the Department of Buildings and General Services, these funds will help complete the third and final phase of renovations in Okemo Valley TV’s facility. The annual Building Communities grants are awarded to “help preserve important historic buildings and enhance community facilities”; the program is funded by the State legislature. A grant award ceremony was held last week at the State House; shown in the photo below (from left to right) are: State Rep. Annmarie Christensen (Cavendish-Weathersfield), Patrick Cody, Gov. Phil Scott, State Senator Alison Clarkson (Windsor Co.), and State Rep. Dennis Devereux (Ludlow-Mt. Holly-Shrewsbury).
Several years ago, we embarked on a project to renovate the former Ludlow Armory "tank barn", which is now part of the Ludlow Community Center complex. Thanks to the support of the Town of Ludlow, who selected us as a long-term tenant of that building, along with Black River Good Neighbor Services, we could establish a new home. That meant building an actual studio, along with the other supporting spaces, that would make the facility an accommodating and efficient work environment for community members to use, for the purposes of creating media. The first 2 phases included the initial fit-up, studio & performance space. Given the scope of the project and our limited budget, it was necessary to break it out into more manageable pieces. We are now gearing up for the final phase. The remaining work involves enclosing the remaining rooms, which include a classroom (to function as a digital media lab), as well as editing suites, a lobby, and control room. The project, estimated to cost $145,000, will also add needed energy efficiency improvements. With the addition of the grant, $60,000 has now been raised towards the final phase of the build-out. Due to the requirements of the "Building Communities" grant, we will need to begin a portion of the work by March 2019. We will start with the "Digital Learning Lab" (conference room / classroom) and the studio production control room. These 2 rooms will allow us to more effectively teach TV studio production to students and other groups while also allowing us to expand our media education services beyond TV production, with the new "Digital Learning Lab". We will be able to host and offer classes on such topics as podcasting & computer animation. Fundraising for the project will continue until the entire goal of $145,000 is met.
Please consider making a contribution to help us expand media education opportunities!