Mid City Times

The City of Fort Worth has received approval from the Texas Film Commission to establish a Media Production Development Zone (MPDZ) within its city limits. This program is intended to promote the development of permanent moving image production sites, thereby creating jobs and boosting the state's economy. The MPDZ offers up to a two-year sales and use tax exemption for construction, maintenance, expansion, improvement, or renovation of media production facilities at designated locations.

To qualify as a Qualified Media Production Location, properties must be used exclusively for building or expanding media production facilities. Existing facilities must be improved solely for enhancing media production capabilities. For these benefits to apply, the Fort Worth City Council must designate specific areas as Qualified Media Production Zones by ordinance or order.

Furthermore, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts needs to certify that projects will positively impact state revenue. The Texas Film Commission must also designate and certify projects for tax exemptions.

Fort Worth was the second city in Texas to establish an MPDZ in 2018, with boundaries overlapping the Near Southside Tax Increment Finance district. Although this zone has expired, it has been replaced by a new zone covering all of Fort Worth's city limits.

The first location within this new zone will be at 2701 Spirit Drive in Hillwood’s AllianceTexas corridor. This existing facility will be transformed into a soundstage and production hub capable of accommodating large-scale film productions and long-term television tenants.

Mayor Mattie Parker stated, “The film and entertainment industry has created more than $700 million of direct economic impact in the City of Fort Worth since 2015.” She emphasized her commitment to continuing this momentum for future returns on investment for Fort Worth residents.

Robert Sturns, director of economic development, added that one goal with their Economic Development Strategic Plan was making Fort Worth a creative business hub. He noted that over 30,000 local jobs have been supported by the entertainment sector over nine years.

Film industry activity has increased in Fort Worth recently with several high-profile projects being filmed locally.