Media: Press Release

For Immediate Release February 14, 2005

VERMONT COMMUNITY BANKS AND TOWN INVEST IN CARTOONING SCHOOL IN WHITE RIVER JUNCTION


White River Junction, VT- The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) signed a $250,000 two-year line of credit with the town and four local banks. Ed Childs, Corporate Banking Officer for Merchants Bank headed up this unique multi-bank loan venture, that he initiated with the Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (GMEDC), a Vermont state agency dedicated to helping Vermont businesses. Mr. Childs pulled together the support of his local industry peers and the Town of Hartford, which includes the village of White River Junction, to meet CCS's financing needs. Merchants, Chittenden Bank, Ledyard Bank, Mascoma Bank, and the Town of Hartford's revolving loan program are each contributing $50,000 towards the loan. "CCS has a sound business plan, great local and national support, and will be a tremendous boon to White River Junction's economic development. We are pleased, along with the other participating banks and the town, to be able to help get this exciting enterprise up and running." - Ed Childs, Merchants Bank The Center for Cartoon Studies is a new school opening in fall 2005 in the village of White River Junction. The School's fundraising initiated the remodeling of the Colodny, and program development. The momentum continued with the signing of a long-term lease with the Vermont State Housing Authority for the Colodny Building on Main Street, recruiting a cohort of students from around the country, and feature articles in The Boston Globe and the front page of The Washington Post.

The Center for Cartoon Studies - "America's only two-year cartooning program" is opening in White River Junction, VT in fall 2005. The full-time two-year course of study program is designed for a small group of dedicated highly creative students with a passion and appreciation for graphic novels, storytelling, writing, comics, and design. Experienced and internationally recognized cartoonists, writers, and designers will teach classes. The school is located in downtown White River Junction, Vermont in the historic Colodny Surprise Department Store building. cartoonstudies.org

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Press Contact:

Michelle Ollie
(802) 295-3319
ollie@cartoonstudies.org

The Center for Cartoon Studies
PO Box 125
White River Junction, Vermont 05001

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