The State of Michigan passed a comprehensive tax-incentive package in 2008 to lure film production to Michigan. As a result, the state experienced a big increase in film projects. In fact, the state has gone from having only a couple of movies filmed here each year to over 50 a year.

The 2008 tax incentives allow film producers a credit against Michigan’s Business Tax in the amount of 40 to 42% of the production-related expenses incurred in the state. Additional incentives reward production companies that train Michigan residents to work on a film crew.

The incentives package was not the state’s first attempt to break into the movies. Back in 1979, Michigan created the Michigan Film Office, an organization dedicated to attracting production companies and assisting them in securing locations for their films. The 1980s saw a bump in movie production in the state as a result, but 2008 saw a much bigger bump because of the tax breaks.