New
York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has announced that the state Assembly
and Senate have reached an agreement on a bill aimed to entice commercial
producers into choosing New
York as a location for their productions. The
legislation would dole out $10.5 million each year during the next four years,
with $7 million coming from the state and $3.5 coming from NYC.
The
bill is the latest in a trend of state and local governments competing for
production dollars. Both the city and the state have New
York campaigns that champion their commitment to the
production industry while touting themselves as having prime locations. The bill
will likely be signed into law sometime next week as part of Governor George
Pataki’s budget package.
This
particular bill resulted from persistent lobbying by the Association of
Independent Commercial Producers. A recent newsletter addressed to AICP members,
co-written by President & CEO Matt Miller and Executive Vice President Steve
Caplan, said that “In addition to providing a significant financial incentive
for those producers who choose to film in New York, the passage of this bill
will send a resounding message to other states and regions that are considering
initiatives to attract and retain our business.”
