Rep. Fiedler and Sen. Saval Celebrate $1,500,000 State Grant to IATSE Local No. 8
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler March 13, 2025
PHILADELPHIA, March 13 — Today State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and State Senator Nikil Saval, D-Phila., joined IATSE Local No. 8 leadership and workers to celebrate a $1,500,000 state grant for an expansion of the union’s renowned training center.
“IATSE Local No. 8 members are the stagehands behind the live events we love, including theater, parades, and the concerts that happen at the stadiums,” said Fiedler. “This $1.5-million state grant will help them prepare more Philadelphians for the union jobs that make our city a beloved hub for arts and culture. I can’t think of a better use of public funds!”
“IATSE members work in and day out to make Philadelphia a world-class arts and entertainment center,” said Saval. “These funds will allow the union to expand their facilities to train current workers and build and support the next generations of workers who follow. The new facilities will offer a modern space where they can gain the knowledge that allows them to do their jobs safely, effectively, and expertly. By investing in these incredible workers, we’re supporting Philadelphia’s cultural and arts sectors to flourish.”
IATSE represents stagehands and other behind-the-scenes workers whose labor fuels the entertainment industry. IATSE is not only the largest union in the industry, but also one of the oldest unions in the country, having represented workers for more than 130 years.
In its current facilities, IATSE Local No. 8 provides comprehensive training and educational opportunities to entertainment industry workers throughout the Philadelphia region. The grant will be used to expand the current facilities with new, state-of-the-art classroom space to ensure that workers and apprentices receive the proper support and training they need to thrive in this rapidly changing industry.
The funds awarded to IATSE Local No. 8 come through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant administered by the Office of the Budget. Projects funded through RACP must have a widespread impact and generate increases in or maintenance of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity.
For more information on RACP awards, please visit budget.pa.gov/programs/racp.