Pa Film Tax Credit Update On March 8th, Governor Corbett said: "My budget retains an array of tax credits, not as favors to businesses, but as a promise to their workers. New and growing industries, like the film industry that is growing around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, need a government that knows enough not to shout "cut" in the middle of production. The film tax credit , which we are retaining - and never thought to do otherwise - will attract jobs and pump money from outside the state into our economy." Those lines appeared in the Governor's speech because that message was delivered to the Governor's office and the General Assembly by hundreds of members of the PA Film Industry Association. Your voices were heard. You made a difference! Here is what we know: 1. Governor Corbett proposed $60 million for the Film Tax Credit in FY 2011-2012 2. No New Applications in FY 2011-2012 will be processed until the budget is passed 3. The Budget must be passed by June 30, 2011 4. The $10-$11 Million remaining from last year are still frozen What happens next? 1. Budget hearings conducted by the Senate and House Appropriations committees in Harrisburg will take place in March. We will monitor the hearings and ask for your help in overcoming whatever resistance we find. 2. The study of the credit conducted by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee in 2009 is going to be updated. We have asked them to look into reported difficulties in the market for the credits. 3. There are reports that $10-$11 million in credits from the fiscal year 2010-2011 are unused. We are asking the Department of Community and Economic Development about those credits and how the credit program will be run under the Corbett administration. Stay tuned. You have won a significant victory. The fact that governors from both parties are in support of building a film industry in Pennsylvania is very important. Now the challenge is to build on this success. Please send a Thank You EMAIL to Governor Corbett for his support of the PA Film Tax Credit Program. Thank him and let him know the positive effects these credits have had on your lives and that the film and television industry in PA needs the Film Tax Credit Program for continued growth. For more information, please visit www.pafia.org . Visit Us! www.PaFIA.org Facebook.com/PaFIA