Politics & Government

Dovilla, Patton Aim to Lure Filmmakers to Ohio

They introduce bill to double the state's tax credit to $20 million a year

State Rep. Mike Dovilla and State Sen. Tom Patton have introduced legislation to raise the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit to $20 million per year in an effort to bring more filmmakers here.

The credit "has a proven record of success" by "bringing productions to our state -- providing more jobs, more economic development and more working families earning a living wage," Dovilla said in a news release.

It is currently capped at $10 million a year.

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According to a recent report by Cleveland State University, previous projects receiving the credit created more than 9,000 jobs and spent $19.5 million on wages and $53.6 million on support services.

"The motion picture tax incentive creates jobs and is a proven money maker for Ohio, earning 20 cents on every dollar invested by the state," Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said in the release.

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Since its inception three years ago, all feature films shot in Ohio have taken advantage of the film tax credit, including The Avengers, originally intended to be shot in Detroit. 

The bill is waiting to be referred to committee for discussion.


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