The State of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development awarded the Entertainment Technology Center a Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority grant in the amount of $500,000 for three specific initiatives designed to utilize interactive digital media for economic revitalization and tourism generation. The grant was the work of ETC Edutainment Director, Jessica Trybus, and Tim McNulty, Special Assistant to the Provost of Carnegie Mellon University.

Operating under the title of Interactive Entertainment Technology Initiative, the grant will be used to develop computer-based training programs and education tools for industries including health care and tourism. The ETC will team with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to develop a simulation game for Critical Care Providers, and with Red Tettemer to design cutting-edge PA tourism exhibits including an interactive ecological tour of Presque Isle for the Tom Ridge Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.  The grant also includes funding for a novel art/film online game being developed by Druid Media of Philadelphia, PA, which showcases the open source game engine PANDA 3D and the Internet 2 network.