April 5, 2021

Every state is looking to take business from Georgia — here’s why N.J. has legitimate chance to do so

(roi-nj.com)

When the outrage following Georgia’s new voting laws started impacting business and industry in the state — starting with the loss of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy responded as so many other governors did, imploring companies to bring their business to their states.

But Murphy’s appeal to television and film industry companies should not be confused as a one-time, one-off opportunity to grab a game or a project. His interest in the industry has been strong since he took office, including the 2018 instatement of New Jersey Film & Digital Media Tax Credit Program, which he extended in 2020.

Outside of wind energy, there are few industries the state has targeted more than TV and film production. Simply put, the state is set up to handle production companies now.

Murphy’s ask — in an open letter sent to Disney, Warner Bros., Netflix and others last Thursday — is just the latest in an ongoing effort to build the sector here.

In fact, the governor had the film industry in mind when he pushed for the transformative projects provision in the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2021. It’s a provision that could provide millions in incentives — but only if a sector is willing to make a major commitment to the state.

By: Tom Bergeron

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