Governor says Texas should focus on film business
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is hoping to make Texas a hot spot in the film industry.
The governor released a statement Wednesday saying he wants the Texas Legislature to provide $60 million in funding for the Texas Film Incentive Program — an initiative that seeks to create incentives that will attract more film development projects to Texas.
“The entertainment industry is an essential part of Texas’ economy, bringing in more than $1.2 billion over the past 10 years, but those numbers are declining,” Perry said on Wednesday. “We want to create a sustainable program that not only attracts individual productions, but develops the skills, infrastructure and culture that will give us a long term competitive edge in the industry new car loan rates.”
As part of the initiative, Perry says workers need the appropriate training to enter entertainment-related fields. He cites recent losses on the project front — namely Texas losing 7,000 crew positions and $500 million in production spending to other states that offered attractive incentives.
Texas lawmakers, Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, and Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, have filed companion bills pushing to boost the state's film incentive program with a higher level of incentives. Both bills are currently in committee.
Filed under: finance by Wolf