Bartolotta Introduces Film Industry Incentive Bill to Create More Jobs in PA

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania could attract more jobs and investment from the film industry under a bill introduced by Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) today.

Bartolotta’s bill would increase the state’s film industry incentive from $70 million to $125 million. The plan would allow Pennsylvania to attract more film and television projects that cannot be supported by the current funding level for the program.

Since the tax credit was created in 2007, the program has helped create more than 30,000 jobs and generated more than $5 billion in total economic activity and $785 million in total state and local taxes. This incentive attracted local projects in the 46th Senatorial District, including the films Southpaw, Foxcatcher, Perks of Being a Wallflower, I Am Number Four and Sweet Girl, as well as two television series, Mindhunter and I Am Not Okay With This.

While the program has been successful in attracting jobs and investment to Pennsylvania, only 509 of the 860 applicants have been approved to receive tax incentives. Bartolotta, who serves as Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, emphasized that expanding the program would lead to more projects being funded and more jobs in Pennsylvania communities.

“Every year, we miss out on an untold number of film and television projects that want to film here but are lured away by better tax incentives in other states,” Bartolotta said. “Expanding this program would allow us to bring more of these projects, jobs, revenues and economic activity to Pennsylvania communities instead of these benefits going to other states.”

Bartolotta founded the Film Industry Caucus, a bicameral, bipartisan group working to support research and analysis of the role that Pennsylvania’s film industry plays in economic development, job creation and revenue enhancement. Other co-chairs include Senator Jay Costa and Representatives Joe Ciresi and Kathleen Tomlinson. Similar legislation will be introduced in the House of Representatives.

CONTACT: Colleen Greer (717) 787-1463

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