Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger today announced the Pennsylvania Film Office is providing a $27 million film tax credit to the producers of “The Mayor of Kingstown,” a successful streaming television series filming in Pittsburgh for a second season. Production of The Mayor of Kingstown to date has resulted in more than 3,000 new jobs being created and over $90 million being infused into the region’s economy.
The Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program offers a 25 percent tax credit to productions that spend at least 60 percent of their total budget in the Commonwealth. To be eligible, projects must be a feature film, a television film, a television talk or game show series, a television commercial, a television pilot, or each episode of a television series intended as programming for a national audience.
“When a TV or film production comes to Pennsylvania it’s a huge driver for the local economy. Crews not only need housing, equipment, transportation, catering and other services, they also hire area workers and spend money at local businesses,” said Secretary Siger.
The Film Tax Credits issued in the 2020-21 fiscal year generated total productions of more than $379 million, which hired more than 8,500 Pennsylvania employees.
“The Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program is a vital part of western PA’s diverse economy, supporting a vibrant industry that employs thousands of local union members,” said Dawn M. Keezer, Executive Director, Pittsburgh Film Office. “Feature films and TV productions provide our residents with good, family-sustaining jobs and workforce development opportunities. The $2.5 billion impact that films have had on this region continues to grow with today’s announcement.”
Recognizing the economic boost from utilizing the Film Tax Credit program to aggressively attract productions to Pennsylvania, the Shapiro Administration recently created a new Film Commissioner role and named Gino Anthony Pesi to serve in that capacity. Pesi leads the Pennsylvania Film Office, which is part of DCED.
Pesi, a Pittsburgh native, brings decades of experience in film and television as an actor, writer, producer, and director, with more than 50 professional film and television credits and industry-wide professional relationships. Pesi will oversee the FTC Program, and work with regional film offices, the Pennsylvania Film Industry Association, film unions, studio executives, and production companies to highlight the FTC and the great production opportunities and workforce that are available across the Commonwealth.
