A Major Win for California’s Creative Economy — Led by The Alliance

This week, California celebrated a major win for its creative economy — and The Valley Economic Alliance was proud to lead an effort that supported this success.

State leaders have approved a $750 million annual expansion of the California Film & Television Tax Credit, more than doubling the original proposal. This bold investment is expected to create thousands of jobs, attract new productions, and reaffirm California’s position as a global hub for entertainment.

The Alliance led a statewide campaign to 350 organizations advocating for this legislation and submitted a formal letter of support earlier this year to key legislative committees. Our message emphasized the substantial economic impact this expansion will have statewide — boosting job creation, wages, and business activity — with particularly strong effects in the San Fernando Valley, a regional hub for film, television, and the many industries that support them.

“This is a proud moment for the San Fernando Valley and for every business and professional behind the scenes of our state’s world-renowned entertainment industry,” said Armida Colmenares-Stafford, Chair of the Alliance’s Board of Directors. “We were honored to raise our voice to this important cause and applaud our partners and policymakers for their leadership.”

Sonya Kay Blake, President and CEO of The Alliance, added: “The entertainment industry powers so much more than film and television — it supports small businesses, sustains middle-class jobs, and fuels innovation across California. We’re proud to stand with our partners to help secure this investment in our creative workforce and regional economy.”

The approved expansion is projected to:

• Support 4,400 to 5,500 jobs
• Increase location-based filming activity in California
• Stimulate economic impact across adjacent sectors including hospitality, construction, transportation, and design

We extend our sincere thanks to all who supported this effort, and to our local and state lawmakers for recognizing the wide-reaching economic benefits of this important investment.

This achievement underscores the power of partnership and advocacy. The Alliance remains committed to advancing public policies and programs that strengthen our regional economy and elevate the businesses and communities we serve.