Elm Studios Wins Opportunity Boost Grant from Utah Microloan Fund

Elm Studios - Award Winning Production Company in the heart of SLC

Owner Evan Moore

Elm Studios started in 2015 as a multimedia studio specializing in audio and video production.  Over the years, owner Evan Moore and his team started to narrow their focus more on the video side of their business, but still offer other media services including photography and digital marketing. Elm Studios has always prided itself on its ties to Salt Lake City and its community and enjoys collaborating with other production companies in order to create the highest quality productions possible.
They have grown from a grassroots company working with local brands and businesses to now also working with major brands and businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. But the team behind Elm still loves to work with small businesses in the community too and can work with a wide range of budgets and size of projects.

---

Growing with the Utah Microloan Fund

UMLF gave us a loan back in 2015 when nobody else would. We were just creatives with a vision and a dream, but not a lot of backing or history to back us. The loan helped us open a studio, invest in equipment, and jumpstart our business in a major way. We’re not just building a business; we’re building a legacy. With their continued support, we’re excited to keep growing and expanding with our new ventures.

Lights, Camera, Crisis

As we are all painfully familiar, when COVID-19 struck, the world shut down and threw our lives as we knew them into disarray. Some of the hardest-hit industries included events and entertainment, and Elm Studios was no exception. 

Overnight, I had multiple jobs canceled, and I was unable to work or book projects for the first 3 months of COVID-19 resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.  Film is an industry that requires collaboration and often has dozens of people working together in close proximity so my industry in particular was heavily affected.  After things got better, I had to spend money on ongoing COVID tests for myself and contracted employees to ensure safety while on set.

How Could an Opportunity Boost Grant Help Elm Studios?

Evan was awarded an Opportunity Boost Grant from the Utah Microloan Fund, allowing him to utilize the funds to upgrade and replace old, outdated equipment for future business opportunities including gear rentals to other creatives. This will offer clients greater value and convenience plus Evan has plans to start the Homies Lighting & Grip, a collective of Gaffers and Grips where he plans to offer commission on rentals to the grip and lighting team. In Evan's opinion, Grips & Gaffers are arguably some of the hardest workers on set, especially in the physical sense.. they are the ones lifting the heavy stands, lights, and pushing heavy carts.  They do make decent rates, but his goal is to help them make a little bit more by giving them a percentage of the rental fee for any gig they work on.  

Elm Studios' future 5-10 year plans include opening a new studio, starting their own film festival and giving their own grants to upcoming filmmakers. 

---

Made Possible by ARPA & SLC Econ Development

Powered by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and orchestrated by the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development, the Salt Lake City Community Grant Program was created to help small businesses, artists, artisans, and nonprofits grappling with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Utah Microloan Fund applied for this grant to enable us to create the Opportunity Boost Program benefitting our existing clients who needed a little boost to help them grow and stabilize. This is the first grant program of its kind for the UMLF as normally we only provide microloans to the small business community. To be able to just give money vs lend it was a big treat for our team!

Eligibility of Small Owners invited to apply for the Opportunity Boost Grant:

• In business as of March, 23rd 2021.
• Existing loan client of the Utah Microloan Fund. 
• Located within Salt Lake City limits.
• ​A business impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Granted funds fuel a growth plan, with tangible outcomes such as revenue and job growth.

---

Why Salt Lake City?

People always ask me why I don't move to Los Angeles, New York or Atlanta, since those cities have become meccas for the film community. But I just love Salt Lake City too much. The outdoor access speaks to me on a personal level and is also where a good amount of our work is centered around. Telling stories of extreme sports athletes' triumphs and struggles. I am also actively involved in the art community and enjoy having seen our city grow over the two decades that I have called Salt Lake City home. Looking forward, I get excited to think about the Olympics returning to Salt Lake City and the other opportunities that are on the horizon for our city.​

---

Stay Connected with Elm Studios

• Website: https://whoshootsyourfilms.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/elmstudiosslc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/elmstudiosslc
• Email: [email protected]