LANSING-Today the Michigan Senate voted with strong bipartisan support to pass the final bill in a 16-bill package that would establish incentives for the film industry to bring productions and jobs to Michigan. Democratic Senators Jim Barcia (D-Bay City), Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) and Dennis Olshove (D-Warren) each had bills in the package, which all passed the Senate yesterday.

Sen. Clarke’s legislation, SB 1173, creates a 25% Michigan Business Tax credit for an investment in a qualified film and digital media infrastructure project, limiting total credits to $20 million for a single year. As the Democratic Vice Chair of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, Sen. Clarke helped guide this legislation through last week’s joint hearing with the House Commerce Committee.

“My legislation promotes long-term growth of the film industry in our state by encouraging film companies to build production facilities here in Michigan,” said Sen. Clarke. “This type of forward-thinking investment is exactly what we need right now to stimulate our economy and make our state a leader in this industry for years to come.”

Sen. Hunter’s legislation, SB 1178, is part of a group of bills within the package that would allow certain state officials to authorize the use of property under their department’s control without charge for the purpose of producing a film. The department officials would establish terms and conditions for the production under this legislation, and the economic benefits to the state would be accepted as the value received by the department in exchange for using the property. As a member of the House, Sen. Hunter introduced similar legislation to attract film productions to Michigan.

“If our state’s facilities can be used during the weekend to help bring a film production to Michigan and create jobs, then there’s no reason we shouldn’t make them available,” said Sen. Hunter. “The economic ripple effect of a television or movie production in the state could translate into hundreds of millions of dollars for local businesses, so I’m pleased that the Legislature is taking such quick action on these fiscally-responsible bills.”

Several Michigan film personalities, including writer Mitch Albom, actor and director Jeff Daniels and director Mike Binder, have testified in support of this legislation. Gov. Granholm announced her support for the film incentive package at this year’s State of the State address, and the Michigan House is expected to begin moving similar bills this week.

# # #