The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved $150,000 in allocations to support initiatives that promote on-location movie shoots throughout Riverside County.
In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the county Office of Economic Development’s proposed six-figure appropriation to fund activities by Rancho Mirage-based Visit Greater Palm Springs and Riverside-based Inland Empire Film Services to spotlight the various locations available for production houses to use.
“The positive economic benefit that a film production has the potential to bring to existing Riverside County businesses can be substantial,” according to an OED statement. “When a film production chooses a location in Riverside County, the production crew and talent stay in local hotels, eat at local dining establishments and use various other local services. Additionally, production companies typically hire local actors for background or extra work.”
The OED will maintain professional services agreements with the two entities until June 30, 2026.
Visit Greater Palm Springs will be responsible for organizing at least two “Film Location Scout Familiarization” tours encompassing the entire Coachella Valley and parts farther east in the desert communities. Inland Empire Film Services will be tasked with organizing at least one FLSF tour covering the western county region, including the mountain communities.
The tours will provide opportunities to promote the inland region’s scenic potential, availability of resources and services and ease of processing countywide film shoot permits, which are handled by Inland Empire Film Services, according to officials.
“The program is expected to have a positive economic impact in Riverside County, including increase activity in every sector of the economy and contribution to sales tax revenues, jobs and income,” the OED stated.
All the funds for the compacts and tours will be drawn from the county’s remaining allotment of federal 2021 American Rescue Plan Act dispersals, which officials said was an allowed use under the economic recovery provisions of ARPA.
The county received $480 million in ARPA distributions and almost $500 million in 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act money.