Promoting Job Creation and Economic Diversification through Attraction and Expansion of Film, Television and Digital Media Production

WHEREAS, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People believes our nation's economic future, and that of the African American Community, will be strongly influenced by industries that succeed through innovation, technology and creativity in a global marketplace; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes the film, television and digital media industry embodies all of these critical attributes and is one of our nation's most important sources of good jobs at a range of skill levels; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes that we must ensure that our states embrace a thoughtful, progressive approach to retaining and expanding film, television and digital media production so that the broad economic, social and cultural benefits generated by this dynamic industry are not lost to other nations; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes that a growing number of other nations are providing aggressive incentives to attract film, television and digital media production, resulting in the loss to the United States of more than $10 billion in production activity annually and more than 50,000 jobs each year; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes that in the United Kingdom's March 2012 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the government will introduce tax incentives for animation, high-end television and video games to complement the already successful U.K. tax incentives for feature films. The U.K. program is an example of the type of national level support for incentives in nations around the globe that poses a growing threat to the United States' retention of its signature knowledge-based industry; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes that film, television and digital media production activity sparks industry-related infrastructure development that serves to revitalize communities and sustains and helps grow thousands of small businesses that support the industry's varied production needs as well as attracts millions of tourism dollars from audiences around the world drawn to urban and rural production locations; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP recognizes that the film and television industry creates very skilled, high-paying jobs, as the production industry and has a long history of hiring locally and investing in the training and workforce development of personnel.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP educate its members and avail them of opportunities to educate others on the importance of the adoption of policies and programs to attract and sustain film, television and digital media production as a source of good job opportunities in African American communities not only in production, but production-supporting businesses as well as related industries such as tourism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that as long as such efforts specifically enhance the income and wealth of African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities, the NAACP supports government-aided economic development benefitting urban and rural communities including job training, such as Production Assistant programs, incentives for the construction of new or repurposing of existing structures for production industry activity, such as investment tax credits or grants; the reduction or elimination of administrative burdens, such as waivers of permits and fees for production, and most critically, direct incentives for production activity; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that states must establish an environment within their borders to attract, retain and expand film, television and digital media production and recognizes that the centerpiece for any plan to diversify and strengthen their respective economies through film, television and digital media production begins with a competitive incentive that is nimble enough to adjust to the rapidly evolving industry; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP send a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, Members of Congress, state legislators and Governors.