Tennessee is contributing $12.5 million to ABC's production of the television show "Nashville," and the metropolitan government is contributing another $500,000 if approved by the council, according to USA Today. The city and state government made the announcement last month.
An additional $125,000 will come from the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and Metro's Event Marketing Fund in an effort to keep the production, with its actors and crew, in Nashville, the announcement said.
"'Nashville' offers a valuable international platform to showcase our state's dynamic entertainment industry, while providing a confluence of film and music that is unique only to Tennessee," Bill Hagerty, the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, told USA Today. "Promoting and assisting this thriving business sector is an integral part of our state's economic development efforts."
The show has begun preproduction for season two, and principal photography will begin in mid-July, according to a news release.
The state's grant, which is reimbursable, will be based on qualified expenditures that are made in Tennessee. Spending on goods or services from Tennessee vendors or paid to state residents in connection with the production will qualify.
"Nashville" recouped 32 percent of its production costs for the first season from a grant from the Department of Economic and Community Development that reimbursed 17 percent of the costs as well as a 15 percent refundable tax credit that came from the state's Department of Revenue. Current law limits the reimbursement to a grant that covers 25 percent of the costs. The new state budget includes $11.25 million in one-time nonrecurring funds "in anticipation of renewing the incentive specifically for 'Nashville' at the 25 percent level," state officials said.
"With beautiful scenic shots of our landscape and the portrayal of our unique music scene, more people, without a doubt, are visiting our city and spending their money here because they've seen this hour-long commercial for Music City that airs every week during prime time," Karl Dean, the mayor of Nashville, said.
A resident and CEO of a marketing firm, Kate O'Neill agreed with the government grants in an open letter she wrote last month urging producers to keep the show in the city.
"It's a mutually beneficial relationship," O'Neill said. "'Nashville' the show doesn't really exist without Nashville the city, and Nashville the city benefits greatly, to the tune of the $40 million estimated impact, from the show.
"It just made sense to me that we would continue to find some way to support it and make it possible for the filming to continue here," O'Neill added.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
