In the midst of criticism of state legislators for creating costly tax incentives to lure filmmakers to the state, one state representative and a filmmaker encourage residents to let the story play out, citing some $233 million already brought into the state—some of that in West Michigan—as well as new jobs. And they say there’s more on the way.
According to excerpts from the story:
The movies are coming to Michigan.
That’s the message Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, and Holland native Scott Brooks of TicTock Studios, 479 Columbia Ave., delivered to a group gathered Thursday evening, June 19, at New Holland Brewing Co., 66 E. Eighth St. in Holland.
The filmmaker and the legislator spoke about the film industry incentives package passed recently by the state legislature, the center piece of which rebates filmmakers up to 42 percent of production costs incurred within Michigan.
The initiative has been criticized by the house fiscal agency and others as costing the state more than it will bring in. Huizenga said such vision is shortsighted.
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