Governor McAuliffe announces 16% economic impact increase of the Virginia Film Industry in 2013

~ AMC’s “TURN,” National Geographic’s “Killing Kennedy” among most significant projects ~

RICHMOND -- Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that the total economic impact of the film industry in Virginia in 2013 was $382.5 million, providing $19.4 million in state and local tax revenue for the Commonwealth.  This is a 16% increase from 2012 when the economic impact was $328.4 million.   In 2013, a total of 2,014 full-time jobs were available in the film industry.    

Among the major projects filmed in Virginia in 2013 were Killing Kennedy for the National Geographic Channel and the AMC television series TURN: Washington’s Spies.  Feature-length films included The Field of Lost Shoes, filmed in Lexington and Richmond, and Big Stone Gap,filmed in Wise County.  Significant TV production activity occurred in the Hampton Roads area, locally-produced indie feature films worked around Roanoke and Lynchburg, and Northern Virginia hosted a portion of the major motion picture Foxcatcher – releasing this weekend.  

“I am pleased to see Virginia’s film industry growing, which helps boost our local economy,” said Governor McAuliffe.  “Bringing jobs and revenue to the Commonwealth is my top priority, and the sixteen percent increase shows that our incentive program has been successful in generating more business and jobs for the Commonwealth.”

Many productions filmed in Virginia benefit from incentive programs designed to support the Commonwealth’s film production industry while making the filming experience in Virginia as economical and efficient as possible for production groups that choose Virginia for their projects.

Virginia has two separate incentive funds. One is the Governor’s Motion Picture Opportunity Fund, which is a grant fund. The other is the Virginia Motion Picture Tax Credit fund, which is a refundable tax credit program.  In addition to the incentive funds, the Commonwealth also has a Sales and Use Tax Exemption that applies to the purchase of production related supplies and equipment. 

“Film and television production provide solid, good-paying jobs, and the industry has proven to be important for the diversification of our economy.” said Maurice Jones, Secretary of Commerce and Trade.  “This is an asset we have that we need to maximize for continued growth.”

“We are particularly interested in continuing to bring episodic television series to Virginia,” said Andy Edmunds, Director of the Virginia Film Office.  “These productions stay longer, hire more Virginians, and provide a greater impact on the economy.  With the support of the Governor and the General Assembly, I believe that TURN: Washington’s Spies will be the first of many major TV series that will choose Virginia.” 

The economic impact data was collected in a November 2014 study by Fletcher Mangum of Mangum Economics, based on information from the Virginia Employment Commission and the Virginia Film Office.

The Virginia Film Office is a division of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Tourism is an instant revenue generator in Virginia. In 2013, visitors spent $21.5 billion, supporting 213,000 jobs and contributing $1.42 billion in state and local taxes.

(Hope you do not mind that we are taking credit for what another Governor did before we got into office.  We do deserve to after all don't we?  Besides, he got arrested and went to jail.)

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First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe Unveils New Ornament at the Executive Mansion

RICHMOND, VA – First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, along with leaders of the Virginia Capitol Foundation, unveiled this year’s Official Capitol Square Ornament at the Executive Mansion. 

The third ornament in the series features Virginia’s Executive Mansion.  The Official Capitol Square ornament program, established in 2012, celebrates the landmarks of Capitol Square and raises funds to support their preservation and interpretation.  The first two ornaments, from 2012 and 2013, feature the Virginia State Capitol and the Bell Tower, respectively. Proceeds from the ornaments, priced at $23.50 each, benefit the Virginia Capitol Foundation, the nonprofit organization supporting the Capitol, Capitol Square, and Executive Mansion.

All three ornaments are available for sale online at VirginiaCapitol.gov, by phone at (804) 786-1010, and in the Capitol.  The Executive Mansion ornament, along with the Capitol and Bell Tower ornaments, will also be sold at the Museum Stores of Richmond Holiday Shoppers Fair at the Library of Virginia Friday, November 7; 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., & Saturday, November 8, 2014; 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Virginia Historical Society booth.

The Executive Mansion was chosen as the subject of the third ornament in the series because of the importance of the building and its prominence on Capitol Square.  The Virginia Executive Mansion has served as home, office, and center of official entertaining for governors and their families since 1813.  Located on Capitol Square, the Mansion is the oldest governor’s residence in the 50 states still serving its original purpose.  The Mansion is both a Virginia Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.

“It is wonderful that the Virginia Capitol Foundation has chosen to feature the Executive Mansion for this year’s holiday ornament,” said First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe. “This beautiful, historic home is a treasure for all of Virginia.”

Alexander Parris designed the Mansion in the Federal style, an architectural style influenced by English architecture but uniquely American.  The front rooms on the first floor retain their original woodwork, plaster cornices, and ornamental ceiling detail.  An extensive renovation in 1906 by architect Duncan Lee added a large oval dining room.  In 2002, a major restoration of the Mansion was completed under the supervision of Roxanne Gilmore, wife of Governor James Gilmore, which returned historic interiors to their original Federal style. 

Several garden spaces surround the Mansion, the most prominent of which is the Gillette Garden, designed in 1954 by noted Richmond landscape architect Charles Gillette.  The Garden Club of Virginia restored the Gillette Garden in 1999, utilizing archival information including Gillette’s own plans and records. 

To the south of the Mansion stand several outbuildings, including a two-story structure housing the original 19th century kitchen and slave quarters.  Plans are underway to recreate and interpret the 19th century kitchen to share the stories of the individuals who worked there, including enslaved persons. 

Distinguished visitors to the Mansion include Sir Winston Churchill, President Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, Margaret Thatcher, Sidney Poitier, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Queen Elizabeth II, and Steven Spielberg, just to name a few.

The Virginia Capitol Foundation is the nonprofit advocate for the Capitol, Capitol Square, and Executive Mansion. It enhances the educational, cultural, and economic potential of Capitol Square’s historic treasures through program development, community engagement, and fundraising.

The Virginia Capitol Foundation Board of Trustees:  Officers – Ric A. Arenstein, Chairman;

Wendy Church Sydnor, Vice Chairman; The Honorable Susan Clarke Schaar, Secretary; Diana J. Beran, Treasurer.  Trustees: The Honorable Sandra D. Bowen, Susan Allen, Samuel W. Daniel, Janet T. Geldzahler, Adrienne G. Hines, Joseph W. Montgomery, The Honorable Brian Moran, The Honorable G. Paul Nardo, Anita O. Poston, The Honorable Nancy Rodrigues, S. Buford Scott, Charles H. Seilheimer, Jr., The Honorable John Charles Thomas

For information about the Virginia Capitol Foundation and the Virginia State Capitol including visitor services, go to www.VirginiaCapitol.gov. 

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Governor McDonnell Announces Winners of Governor’s Bowl Food and Fund Drive

65 Liberty Street (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Competition raised equivalent of more than 1.1 million pounds of food in two years since launch

RICHMOND – Governor McDonnell today announced the winners of the second annual “Governor’s Bowl Food and Fund Drive.”  The governor called each winning Chamber of Commerce and winning state agency this morning to express his gratitude personally. More than 100 Chambers across the Commonwealth and over 60 state government agencies participated in the five week competition that began on Memorial Day and ended on Independence Day. The 2013 competition raised the equivalent of over 400,000 pounds of food to benefit over one million individuals served by Virginia food banks. The summer season includes critical months when pressure on food bank resources is high and shelves need replenishing.

            Over 1.1 million pounds of food were raised in just two years of the Governor’s Bowl competition. The 2013 Governor’s Bowl public-private partnership supports the mission of the Virginia food banks that serve over one million individuals each year.

            Both chambers and state agencies were organized by size with small, medium, and large entities competing with their peer groups. The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber is the 2013 overall winner with the equivalent of over 115,000 pounds raised. All of the 2012 winners were repeat Governor’s Bowl champions. Back-to-back Chamber winners are Buchanan County, Greater Augusta, and Greater Richmond. The Virginia Board of Accountancy also defended its title in 2013.

            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Earlier this summer I renewed my challenge to Virginia’s business community and state agencies to compete in good fun for a worthwhile cause. We could not do it without our partners at each Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Food Banks, and our teams of state employees.  And, I have to say, I’m very pleased to see that the coordinated and focused effort of our summer fellows led to the Office of the Governor winning one of these great awards!”

            Lisa M. Hicks-Thomas, Secretary of Administration, said, “As always, our Virginia communities responded with passion and purpose to lift up those in need. I am grateful for the hard work, service, and commitment Virginians exude each day, and am particularly proud of the thousands of state employees who demonstrate their generosity year after year.”

Leslie Van Horn, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks said, “Our heartfelt thanks to the  Chambers and state government agencies that supported their local food banks during this summertime competition  for truly making a difference in the lives of so many in need.”

Barry DuVal, President & CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said “On behalf of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and our 15,000 member businesses I would like to thank the Governor and his staff for their commitment to ensuring that the shelves of Virginia’s Food Banks are stocked during the summer months. We are thrilled to see such a great response from Virginia’s business community to the Governor’s challenge and would like to thank all of the local chambers that participated in this year’s competition.  I especially applaud the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, and all the state agency winners for raising the most food in their respective categories for their regional food banks.”

            The Office of the Governor also earned an award this year for most total pounds for a small agency. The Governor’s Fellows Class of 2013 led the executive staff and Cabinet in its efforts to drive greater donations this year. The Class consisted of 16 talented future leaders from Virginia’s colleges and universities who designed an intra-office competition including bake sales, canned food drives, and special prizes to increase participation. The Fellows Class also led by example, spending their personal time volunteering as a group at FeedMore in Richmond. Special thanks go to our partners in the Department of Planning and Budget for their participation and assistance. 

The 2013 winners are:

Chambers

Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce (small)                            

·         18,995 pounds, exceeding its winning 2012 total of 17,694 pounds, benefiting Feeding America Southwest Virginia

Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce (medium)    

·         115,529 pounds, exceeding its winning 2012 total of 105,315 pounds. benefiting the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank               

Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce (large)                           

·         17, 296 pounds benefiting FeedMore, Inc. (aka Central Virginia Food Bank)

Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce (large)

·         17 pounds per person

State Agencies

Office of the Governor (small)

·         9, 096 total pounds

Virginia Board of Accountancy (small)                                                                   

·         337 pounds per person

Department of Motor Vehicles (medium)

·         28,560 total pounds

Department of Environmental Quality (medium)

·         21 pounds per person

Department of Corrections (large)

·         19, 698 total pounds and 1.71 pounds per person

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