Movie studio could mean millions to Fayette economy, officials project
Officials have projected that bringing a movie production studio to Fayette County could mean millions of dollars in revenue and hundreds of jobs. County commissioner Ronald M. Nehls has been pushing to enter into an agreement with Fayette Films LLC to turn the Great Meadows Amphitheater property on Route 40 in Wharton Township. The company has proposed leasing the site for $5,000 per month for the first year and then $10,000 per month for the remaining four years on the lease. Discussions have centered on allowing the company to purchase the property if $2 million in improvements is completed.
Jason Thomas, a Wyoming-based writer and movie studio developer, has said that the project could even revive downtown Uniontown.
Although there isn’t a movie production studio in the area, the Pittsburgh Film Office has made an impact on the city’s economy.
Last week, the Pittsburgh Film Office released the results of an economic impact study conducted by Washington D.C.-based Economic Research Associates. The study reveals how much of an impact the film industry has on the Pittsburgh Metropolitan area.
The key facts outlined in the study are as follows:
? Between 1995 and 2001, 30 feature films, 65 television projects, 35 documentaries, 186 commercials, 88 videos and 63 miscellaneous projects for a total of 467 projects, were shot in the region, contributing more than $82 million in direct expenditures to the local economy.
? The average feature film shooting in Pittsburgh generates more than $4 million in total economic activity and supports more than 50 full time equivalent employment positions. During an average year, feature films contributed a total economic impact of $11.1 million to the economy of the Pittsburgh region.
? Since 1995, the industry attracted more than $82.9 million in direct spending. This generated more than $73.7 million in indirect and induced economic activity. During this time period, the industry general more than $155.6 million in total economic impact.
? The total value of local expenditures in the motion picture production industry in 2001 was $17.2 million. This activity is estimated to have generated an additional $15.3 million in indirect and induced economic impacts yielding a total economic impact for the region of more than $32.5 million.
? The core motion picture production industries had 875 wage and salary employees for 2001 in the greater Pittsburgh area, and provided more than $37.5 million annually in total wages to area workers.