GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — State lawmakers are considering a proposal to create a new movie tax credit after the previous program ends.
the Michigan Motion Picture Industry Association held a town hall meeting Wednesday night at Lowing Studios in Plainfield Township to review the plan.
The statewide incentive was removed in 2015 and has never been replaced. The program gave productions tax credits for filming in the state. This included credits for buying supplies from local stores and hiring local workers.
Alexander Page, legislative president of the Michigan Film Industry Association, said productions go through Michigan and shoot in states like Georgia.
The group has proposed legislation that would provide a basic tax credit starting at 25% for in-state expenses, with an additional 5% to include the Filmed in Michigan logo. It would also provide a 30% credit for hiring Michigan residents and 20% for non-residents.
“We took that and built it from the ground up. We talked to other states, what worked, what didn’t,” Page said. “We have over 40 states and municipalities running programs and we have over 90 countries offering incentives. Therefore, to participate, you must be able to have a competitive program that helps support jobs. and Michigan businesses.”
Businesses would have to prove they have a physical presence in the state with full-time workers.
David Haddad, president of the Michigan Film Industry Association, said the industry continues to grow.
“Now we have seven new streaming companies creating content, so we have all this demand and they’ll only go where there are movie credit programs,” Haddad said.
The association says Michigan has a wide variety of locations to use in productions.
“You have a beach, you have sand, you have a wooded area. You have UP,” Haddad said.
Lindsey Katerberg, who is also vice president of a West Michigan machinists’ union, said the incentive would help create a sustainable industry in the region.
“Streaming services have exploded, you can’t get enough content for everyone. They always want more and we can continue to be part of that process,” Katerberg said.
If approved, the proposed incentive would last for 10 years and have caps for different types of productions like movies and commercials.
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