Kansas City is taking steps to encourage movie and television crews to film in the metro. The Kansas City City Council passed the city’s first Film Development Program Feb. 25.

The program will provide tax rebates to production companies that qualify. To be eligible for the funding, production companies must agree to a minimum length of stay in Kansas City hotels, pay a $50 application fee and hire a minimum of five local crew members, among other provisions.

The new incentive program is aimed at attracting more talent to the area, which would give Kansas City a competitive edge nationally when it comes to the entertainment world. But an increase in film and TV production would also give Kansas City a leg up in other industries.

Attracting more film crews and sets to the area would give a boost to technology, hospitality, marketing, talent and casting industries, as well as support and rental vendors in the metro.

The Film Development Program is also intended to entice local talent to stay in the area. Often, Kansas City natives move to other areas of the country that encourage more creative projects, like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and even Atlanta.
Funds for the program will become available starting this May. Applications can go through the KC Film + Media Office. You can read more about the program on the City’s website here: http://bit.ly/1PGR8Z.