Latest news with #ColumbiaMissourian
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tax credits aim to rebuild Missouri's film industry
A cinematographer shoots a scene for 'The Jester 2' at Big Mama's Cafe in Columbia. The film is currently in production with help from Missouri's film tax credits. (Courtesy Nick Lewis via Columbia Missourian) For 10 years, Missouri had no incentive for production companies to film in the state. Now, more TV and film sets are coming to Missouri thanks to help from a tax credit established in 2023. The 'Show MO Act' gives up to a 42% tax credit on eligible film productions. Productions initially have the option for a 20% minimum credit but can receive up to four additional 5% credits for meeting certain conditions. Last year alone, film productions working under the tax credit spent more than $33.5 million. The tax credit follows programs like Georgia's long-running film tax incentive in boosting state film industries. 'That damn peach,' Missouri Film Office Director Andrea Sporcic-Klund joked, referencing the orange and green logo that appears in the credits of Georgia productions. 'Hopefully you'll be seeing our Missouri logo there pretty soon.' Sporcic-Klund coordinates film productions in the state and promotes Missouri's film industry through the incentive. Last year, four productions with budgets over $1 million were filmed in Missouri, which Sporcic-Klund says would not have happened without the incentive. Film in MO, a nonprofit that works to support the tax credits, lobbied at the Missouri Capitol in February. Sporcic-Klund joined Pete Salsich, an entertainment lawyer who is on the board of directors at Film in MO, at the Capitol to promote the incentive to lawmakers. 'If you don't have the tax credit, most of these films are simply going somewhere else,' Salsich said. 'The tax credit becomes sort of your ticket into the conversation, but it's not enough, because you can use that lots of places.' The current tax credit is the state's second attempt at incentivizing filmmakers to work in Missouri. The previous tax credit was repealed in 2013, with the film 'Gone Girl' being the last major production in the state to receive a tax credit until the Show MO Act became official. In the time after the tax credits expired, the state missed out on several opportunities for major film projects. The Netflix series 'Ozark' was one of these productions, as the show drew much attention to the Lake of the Ozarks area despite being filmed mostly in Georgia. 'My hope is that we can get back to getting those solid productions that Missouri can be proud of,' said Sporcic-Klund. 'I think losing them, like not having as big of a role in 'Ozark,' really changed minds.' Renewed support for motion picture tax credits came to light in 2023, when the Show MO Act was passed. The bill was initially sponsored in the Senate by Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who says he is looking forward to seeing successful results from the tax credit. Hoskins explained that about 4,000 to 5,000 college students were graduating from Missouri universities every year with some sort of media or film degree but were going to other states for work. 'One of the points of that bill was to put the right leg forward and build up that industry so those Missourians can stay here and work in their industry,' Hoskins said. To be eligible for the credit, each project must meet the minimum spend for the length of their script, employ certain amounts of Missouri registered apprentices and meet the criteria for a 'qualified motion media project,' as outlined by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Film producer Cole Payne worked on his most recent project, the horror film 'The Jester 2' under Missouri's tax credit. 'As a Missourian, it's nice to be able to stay at home and film,' Payne said. The film, which wrapped in 2024 and is currently in post-production, was shot in various locations across Columbia, Rocheport and Boonville. On set, Payne said, everything went smoothly with the help of other Missourians. 'In the town of Rocheport, the mayor came out and supported us. The local restaurants opened up for us, made us dessert and let us use their space at night,' Payne said. 'We just hired as many locals as we could.' More than 30 other states have tax credits for filming. For people who work in Missouri's film industry like Payne and Salsich, the credit gives them one way to show off their state. 'The out-of-town folks rave about how supportive and friendly everybody here is,' Salsich said. 'When people leave here and have a good experience, they talk about it and they want to come back and do it again.' Besides affordability and hospitality, Missouri's geography is also appealing to producers. The state is central, which is important for transporting equipment, and, Payne said, 'Missouri can be made to work for so many looks.' The tax credit is mainly designed to bring positive marketing to the state. One of the additional credits that productions can receive is a 5% credit for filming in 'rural or blighted' areas, in hopes of increasing tourism and boosting local economies. An additional 5% credit can be awarded if a film's script positively markets a city or region of the state, as determined by the Missouri Office of Economic Development. For some producers, this leads to a creative struggle. Payne's film did not receive a bonus for positive marketing of Missouri, despite spending two weeks filming in Rocheport. He disagrees with the state's interpretation of positive marketing. 'Screenplays aren't written to say, 'Hey, we're in this state, and these things are very great about this state,'' Payne said. 'It doesn't mean it can't be a positive marketing opportunity for the state or the city that it's filmed in.' Other rules that were tacked onto the bill also proved to be another off-set roadblock for Payne. He says that the 100% audit required by the Office of Economic Development was a 'surprise' since most audits for businesses are usually samples, which are cheaper. Payne is currently in production for his second film in the state, which will begin filming at the end of March. After 10 years without an incentive, Missouri has a lot of work to do to rebuild its film industry. Payne is just one producer working toward that goal. 'There's a production industry in Missouri that's broader than just tourism that says 'Come live here,' ' Salsich said. 'Invest in a production house. Turn some old warehouses into sound stages. Invest in more infrastructure to enable more support to exist and attract more productions.' Salsich says that the impact of the credit is very broad and that it is already being seen through money being spent and jobs being created through productions. At the film office, Sporcic-Klund is optimistic about this year's outlook for Missouri films. 'We've had two producers bring back second projects already, so the word is good,' she said. 'We haven't made a big push because we know that we lost a lot of infrastructure in those 10 years, so we're building that back up.' As the state works to rebuild the film industry, lawmakers have also taken steps to support the Show MO Act. A removal of the program's expiration was proposed in a recent bill. 'Hopefully we don't have to keep bringing things in, because we can start building the infrastructure and build brick-and-mortar businesses around this industry,' Payne said. 'We will be able to if we can extend or remove the sunset on the bill.' If the bill passes the House, motion picture tax credits will be ensured for the foreseeable future. This article originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholic Charities refugee resettlement program in mid-Missouri to close after 14 years
President Donald Trump addresses the 2025 Republican Issues Conference at the Trump National Doral Miami on Jan. 27 in Doral, Florida (). The Central and Northern Missouri chapter of Catholic Charities will end its refugee resettlement program March 31. In an email to supporters, Executive Director Litz Main said the nonprofit had to end the program due to the lack of federal funding. 'We deeply appreciate your partnership and shared commitment to serving those in need,' Main said in the email. 'As we navigate this transition, we welcome opportunities to collaborate in new ways to continue supporting refugee families in our region.' The cuts come from a federal level, after President Donald Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and halted all funding for agencies that support refugees. Although the executive order was blocked by a federal judge in February, local resettlement programs still face a lack of federal funds. There is no indication when the program will resume, and the case is expected to face an appeal from the Trump administration. Catholic Charities has provided food assistance, disaster relief and family services for refugees for 14 years through the program. The program stopped accepting new refugees earlier this year because of uncertainty about the future, according to an emailed statement. The organization has worked with partner agencies to have those groups take over providing support to refugees. That transition will be complete by March 31, according to the statement. 'We are proud to have welcomed and walked alongside so many who now call Missouri home, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting these families through our partner agencies,' Main said in the statement Wednesday. She was not available for additional questions. Catholic Charities said in the statement it will continue to focus on its mission to support those in need in the Diocese of Jefferson City. City of Refuge, a refugee-focused nonprofit in Columbia, said in an email to its supporters Tuesday that one of the largest federal grants it receives will no longer be given to nonprofits. The funding will end Sept. 30. City of Refuge was not available for comment. This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP legislator pushes tax hike on Missouri farmland used for renewable energy
The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, as pictured September 26, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). A Republican lawmaker is proposing to raise taxes on Missouri farmers who participate in wind or solar energy projects. As utilities and energy developers increase solar and wind power, people in rural areas across the nation have been offered opportunities to lease their land to house a wind turbine or a field of solar panels. A bill proposed by Rep. Danny Busick, a Newtown Republican, would change the tax rate for agricultural land that is leased for solar or wind energy generation by reassessing it as commercial property. Busick's district covers Kirksville and north central Missouri. His bill would nearly triple the assessment rate for agricultural land that hosts energy infrastructure. 'It is a tax increase,' Busick said, 'but I think it is designed to try to be fair to the players in this game.' According to the legislative research division, agricultural land is currently assessed at 12% of its value. Utility, industrial and commercial land is assessed at 32%. These baseline figures are then multiplied by the local county tax rate to determine a property tax bill. In a hearing this week, Busick said farmers who participate in renewable energy projects shouldn't be charged as if their land is only for agriculture. 'My purpose is not to attack farmers,' he said, 'but when you repurpose your land for another purpose outside of agriculture, I think you should pay your fair share in that sense.' Busick said the bill would exclude land where corn or soybeans is cultivated for biofuel production. Scott Swain represents the Clean Grid Alliance, an advocacy group, and spoke in opposition to the bill. He said large-scale wind and solar power plants are an essential part of the state's future energy generation. 'They're putting a lot of money into communities and so we don't want to necessarily tax them out,' Swain said. 'If we do want to tax them out, then we need to raise the tax and nobody will come to the state, and that will probably settle a lot of concerns. I don't think that's where we want to go.' This story originally appeared in the Columbia Missourian. It can be republished in print or online.
