The television and film industry has had a $2.4 million economic impact on Rome and Floyd County over the last five years, but accounts for less than half of one percent of the economic impact which flows through the local tourism office.
Ann Hortman, director of the Rome Sports Commission and a liaison to the Georgia Camera Ready program for Rome and Floyd County, briefed the Rome Floyd Chamber Economic Development committee on the impact of film and sports visitors on Friday.
“This week I’ve talked to a film scout every single day,” Hortman said. “This is a busy time because they’re looking for locations to shoot during the upcoming year or two.”
Statewide, the industry pumped more than $9 billion dollars into the state last year and accounted for more than 22,000 jobs.
The overwhelming majority of the $2.4 million in local spending by the industry occurred back in 2015 when the “Kingmakers” pilot was shot in Rome over a six-week period of time. Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” was shot over two weekends, resulting in a $73,000 economic impact, but Hortman said she was not aware of what the production company had to spend to get the DOT to allow the closure of the west bypass during the local filming. See more at MDJonline.
