A new film-incentives program would give money to film and video game companies under a proposal approved by the state Senate.
Republicans have been looking for a new way to attract film companies to Michigan.
A tax-credit program created by Governor Jennifer Granholm was largely unpopular with the GOP.
Republican state Senator Mike Kowall says he a grant-based system for funding the film industry could still attract big-name productions to Michigan.
He says the amount of money the state appropriates for the film industry may become a contentious issue down the road. But he says it’s important to get a system in place now that will keep the film industry interested in Michigan.
“When you go down into these studios and you see not only how many people are there but the caliber and they’re from Michigan – they’re Michigan kids, they’re people that maybe moved to California and had the opportunity to move back and they grabbed it, said Kowall.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville has said he would like to see as much as $100 million budgeted for the film incentives program.
If the Legislature approves the new incentive program, lawmakers will still have to decide how much money to budget for the film industry. The state Senate is expected to vote on the film-incentive program proposal tomorrow.
