News
May 12, 2016Film Upstate!
The Chamber, in partnership with a collaborative of film commissions in the Capital Region, has been working on ways in which to make the climate for filmmaking more attractive in our region.
Tax credits have been a focus of our discussions. The Empire State Film Production Tax Credit provides a refundable 30 percent tax credit and an additional 10 percent credit on qualified labor costs incurred in 42 Upstate counties. We believe that it is imperative to extend the availability of the additional 10 percent tax credit to those counties not currently covered (Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, and Washington).
The Film Production Tax Credit Program has boosted filming in counties where the credit is available and has had a positive impact on the upstate film industry. The Chamber believes that by expanding this credit to other counties, the upstate economy, as well as the upstate film industry will benefit.
To this end, the Chamber is advocating for legislation sponsored by Senator George Amedore that will extend this tax credit. Our goal is to promote all that Upstate New York has to offer, increase filming throughout upstate and attract more visitors to our countless tourism destinations. By enacting this legislation, New York State can send a strong message to filmmakers: “Film Upstate”! Your Chamber advocacy team, with your support, will push for the passage of this legislation before the end of the legislative session (June 16).
