Scalise: LA Film Industry helping Create 400 New Jobs in Southeast Louisiana through Federal Grant

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for awarding a $3 million grant to the University of New Orleans (UNO) Robert E. Nims Center for Entertainment Arts, a film and creative media facility which assists Louisiana’s very successful film industry.

“During these tough economic times, Louisiana’s film industry is continuing to thrive and provide tremendous economic benefits for our State,” Scalise said. “Common-sense legislative policies like tax incentives help spur economic growth and allow small businesses to create jobs. The Nims Center Studios are a real asset to our region, and this grant will help create more good jobs and keep Southeast Louisiana on the cutting edge of film production.”

While a State Representative in the Louisiana Legislature in 2002, Congressman Scalise authored the legislation that created tax incentives for the film industry, called the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentives Act. Last year alone the industry provided more than 3,000 jobs in Louisiana and brought more than $500 million in economic impact to the state.

The project is expected to create 400 jobs and generate $132 million in private investments, according to grantee estimates. This grant is funded by the EDA from appropriations it received in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, for relief and recovery from disasters that occurred in 2008.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309