MIAMI (July 18, 2017) — In keeping with its mission to maintain Miami-Dade County as a top production destination, the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ Office of Film and Entertainment is launching a local TV/film and digital entertainment production incentive program. The program intends to help support individual film and entertainment projects that will benefit the industry workforce and boost the local economy and will be available starting August 1.
Productions will have to meet certain requirements to benefit from the program. Among those are the following:
• The production must spend at least $1,000,000 in Miami-Dade County on payroll (for Miami-Dade County residents only) and other expenditures.
• At least 70% of the entire production project must be produced in Miami-Dade County.
• Each production project is required to hire a minimum of 50 main cast and crew (employees) that are Miami-Dade County
residents and must include at least one student/recent graduate who is enrolled at or recently graduated from a local college or university.
• Salaries for Miami-Dade County residents hired must be a minimum of the current living wage as defined by County law.
• At least 80 percent of vendors utilized on the production project must be Miami-Dade County-based registered businesses.
The rebate for qualifying productions would be a maximum of $100,000 per project. Each project’s eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and each project/grant agreement will be require approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Grants will only be disbursed after the project is completed and proof that all requirements were satisfied has been submitted.
“The local industry has been asking for the County’s assistance by enacting a local incentive program and now they have it,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Giménez. “This is a vital industry for our local economy, and we want those who are a part of it to be able to work and live here, and not have to move away in order to pay their bills.”
“Miami-Dade is committed to bringing back an important industry that positively impacts all of our County,” said Commissioner Sally A. Heyman (District 4), who sponsored the Resolution.
“We are excited to be able to offer this local TV/film and digital entertainment production incentive program to the industry,” said Sandy Lighterman, director of the Office of Film and Entertainment. “We anticipate this program will be able to stem the loss of our crew, acting talent and supporting businesses.”
Miami-Dade County is an ideal destination for film and entertainment projects. From diverse locations, experienced crews and local talent base to superior infrastructure, it boasts of a dynamic, flourishing production industry that employs approximately 10,000 full and part-time workers and has an annual impact of over $1 billion to the local economy.
For more information on the TV/film and digital entertainment production incentive program, visit the Office of Film and Entertainment.