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Health & Fitness

Film Tax Credit Program Helping Region

Late last week it was announced that another motion picture would be filming in Pittsburgh in March.  The film, “Fathers and Daughters” starring Russell Crowe, is scheduled to be filming in Pittsburgh for about eight weeks.  I was pleased to provide assistance to the Pittsburgh Film Office to ensure that this production would receive tax credits as part of the state’s Film Tax Credit Program. 

The Film Tax Credit Program was established in 2007 and currently authorizes the issuance of $60 million in tax credits per year for productions that spend at least 60 percent of its total production budget in Pennsylvania.  The amount of the tax credit available to a film production is 25 percent of qualified expenses spent in the state.  When this program started, $75 million in tax credits were available each year but that number has been reduced over the last two years to $60 million.  I am the sponsor of legislation, Senate Bill 687 (SB 687), that would increase the amount of tax credits available as a way to increase Pennsylvania’s ability to draw these lucrative projects and put more revenue back into our state and local economies.

While this program benefits production companies, the real beneficiaries are local businesses and workers.  When a production comes to the area, it relies on local merchants and businesses, for products and services, which helps stimulate the economy and puts people to work.  Since the program began, over $280 million has been invested back into our region’s economy.

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