Filmmakers Renew Calls For Accountability On $700,000 Grant Package

Case illustrates that more attention needs to be placed on the constitutionality of government grants and economic development spending.

In August, I wrote about the efforts of a group of North Dakota filmmakers to bring attention to a grant program by the Department of Commerce that was clearly set up to be awarded to a particular company.

Is the Commerce Dept playing fast and loose with grant money?

Today, three months later, after getting no response from state officials, those same filmmakers are renewing their call for state officials to dig into this situation by sending a request to Attorney General Drew Wrigley and State Auditor Josh Gallion.

At a noon press conference (see video below), Matt Fern as spokesman for the the North Dakota Film and Media Association outlined the flimsy grant process that was used to divy out $600,000 to Canticle Productions this year, after they received $100,000 last budget cycle.