NEW, EXPANDED METRO DETROIT MOVIE STUDIOS TO ADD THOUSANDS OF JOBS

Good news arrived today in an otherwise miserable start to the year.

"A former Pontiac auto plant and the defunct MGM Grand Casino will be converted into film production studios that will create 4,000 new direct jobs in Metro Detroit, boosting one of the state's few fast-growing industries.

An $86 million digital animation and visual effects studio to be called the Detroit Center Studios will set up shop in the former MGM Grand Casino downtown, and is set to open by the end of the year. In Pontiac, a $54 million film production studio called Motown Motion Picture Studios will be built at General Motors Corp.'s former Centerpoint plant, according to Granholm's spokeswoman Liz Boyd."

If the movie industry is really going to have an impact in Michigan, steady, permanent jobs are necessary. Today, news from Pontiac, and the City of Detroit, give a glimmer of hope that jobs of this ilk may be forthcoming. While I am well aware that the proposed studios announced today will be housed in already abandoned buildings, I'd rather these buildings not be abandoned again. For that to happen, we'd better hope that other states don't pass tax breaks higher than our 42%. I do believe, however, that as long as Michigan's tax breaks remain the highest, or at least extremely competitive with other states, building permanent infrastructure before other states will be a key to keeping film making an itegral piece of our economy. No doubt, this is a positive development.

Check out some of the details at New, expanded Metro Detroit movie studios to add thousands of jobs

I'll keep you updated...

Detroit Army