The Broken Arrow City Council has officially approved a new $100,000 pilot film incentive program designed to attract film productions and drive economic growth in the community.
The newly approved Broken Arrow Film Incentive aims to position the city as a premier destination for film production. With this program, the film friendly certified city of Broken Arrow will have Oklahoma’s second largest municipal film incentive, behind only Oklahoma City. The $100,000 pilot program will allow Visit Broken Arrow and the City of Broken Arrow to evaluate the program’s success and determine long-term funding strategies.
Key features of the incentive include:
- 10% rebate on local spending during a film project
- $500 rebate for every 12 room nights spent at a Broken Arrow hotel
- 10-20% rebate on the cost of production space used during filming
“The film industry in Oklahoma is booming right now, and we’re confident this incentive will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Broken Arrow,” said Makala Barton, Tourism Manager for the City of Broken Arrow and Visit Broken Arrow Board.
Councilor Lisa Ford, who serves on the Visit Broken Arrow board, emphasized the impact this initiative will have on local businesses. “It’s an opportunity to showcase our city on a bigger stage while creating real economic benefits for our residents.”
This decision comes on the heels of a recent economic impact study revealing that the Filmed in Oklahoma Act has generated over $531 million in direct economic impact for the state since its inception in 2021. The study highlighted that 60% of qualified spending went to worker wages, with the remaining 40% funding direct purchases of goods and services. Incentivized spending saw a significant increase from $31.8 million in fiscal year 2020 to $161.3 million annually between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.
“Oklahoma is a formidable partner for the film and television industry with incentives not only offered by the state, but additional programs available through our tribal and community partners who recognize the economic impact of these industries and want to bring those opportunities to their areas,” said OF+MO Director Jeanette Stanton. “It’s inspiring to see communities like Broken Arrow make this investment, and we applaud their leadership for this commitment, which adds another layer of support to Oklahoma’s filmmaking growth and success.”
For more information about filming in Broken Arrow and the new incentive program, visit filminba.com.
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About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) works to promote the state as a viable hub for film, television and music production as well as further develop opportunities for workforce, business and community growth within these sectors. For more information on the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, including the state’s film incentives and additional resources, visit okfilmmusic.org.
