According to CBS News Pittsburgh, the production's influence on the region is pretty impressive. The Pennsylvania Film Office hooked up the show's producers with a sweet $27 million film tax credit, as per the Department of Community and Economic Development on Monday. Pennsylvania's Film Tax Credit program gives a 25% tax credit to productions that spend at least 60% of their budget in-state and aim for a national audience.
"The Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program is a vital part of western PA's diverse economy, supporting a vibrant industry that employs thousands of local union members," said Dawn M. Keezer, the Pittsburgh Film Office's executive director, in a news release from the Shapiro administration. "Feature films and TV productions provide our residents with good, family-sustaining jobs and workforce development opportunities. The $2.5 billion impact that films have had on this region continues to grow with today's announcement."
The film tax credits given out in the 2020-21 fiscal year led to over $379 million in total productions and provided jobs for over 8,500 Pennsylvanians, as stated by the Shapiro administration. Recognizing the economic lift from the Film Tax Credit Program, the state introduced a new film commissioner position, to be taken up by Pittsburgh native Gino Anthony Pesi.
Featuring Jeremy Renner and Dianne Wiest, the Paramount+ series "Mayor of Kingstown" dives into the lives of the McLusky family, key players in Kingstown, Michigan, where the prison business reigns supreme. The upcoming season is brought to you by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, known for their work on "Yellowstone."
This is a fantastic testament to the ripple effect that creative industries can have on our local economy and a great example of the enormous potential of Pittsburgh as a destination for film and TV production.
For more details on this encouraging story, make sure to read the original article on the CBS News Pittsburgh website here.