Delaware is making a new push to attract movies, television shows and other productions to the state with an annual $10 million tax credit program.
Production companies can begin applying for the credits Wednesday under a new law that was one of Gov. Matt Meyer’s priorities to bring more business and exposure to Delaware.
The program can provide productions with a credit of up to 30% on Delaware expenses if they spend at least $100,000 in the state during one consecutive 12-month period.
“Applicants have to tell us what Delaware residents are you going to hire, what vendors are you going to use, what locations in Delaware you’re going to prioritize,” CJ Bell of the Delaware Division of Small Business said.
The credits aren’t limited to movies. They can also be used for TV and streaming shows, game and award shows, and video game production, as long as the qualifying expenses are specific to Delaware.
The program arrives as one production is already preparing to put Old New Castle on the big screen.
A production company is plotting out shots and preparing residents for parking and driving changes needed to film scenes for a movie called “Unaccompanied Minor.”
Some residents are excited about the attention the production could bring to their town.
“It shows off the town for one thing and probably makes people more interested in coming to visit New Castle,” Old New Castle resident Cindy Snyder said.
Delaware has previously served as a backdrop for Hollywood. Every minute of the Robin Williams movie “Dead Poets Society” was filmed in the state in the late 1980s.
Now, Delaware is looking to showcase its variety of potential filming locations, from farms and beaches to cities and small towns, as it works to attract more productions.
“This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.”
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