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30 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2019 The shows, according to NBCUniversal, were relocated to Connecticut as a direct result of the state's film, television, and digital media tax credit program. "We're creating an industry where there wasn't one before," said Norfleet. "[Many of the companies] are new to the state in the last eight years or so, so we know that our incentives are working, and we see the results when we see folks locating here, and hiring hundreds of people and spending millions of dollars." Creating a novel industry Implemented in July of 2006, the tax incentives have proven pivotal in the growth and expansion of the film, television, and digital media sector overall. "We've had just about $2.4 billion in production spending, and we've issued about $807 million in tax credits over the last 12 years," said Ed Ruggiero, tax credit administrator for the Connecticut Office of Film, TV, & Digital Media. And that spending translates into economic gain. "When you see the expenditures increasing, that generates tax revenue," said Norfleet. "We're creating jobs, which puts people to work, which is a second layer of tax revenue that's generated. And at the end of the day, what we're doing is creating and building a novel industry which diversifies the state's economy overall," he said. As of 2018, the industry encompassed more than 1,200 media- related companies in Connecticut, employing approximately 16,000 people. Adding to the robust outlook are two additional media companies coming soon to the state: ITV America and Wheelhouse Entertainment. The largest producer of non-scripted content in the U.S., ITV America is the company behind popular shows like HGTV's "Fixer Upper," History Channel's "Pawn Stars," and "Queer Eye," for Netflix. In May of 2018, the media company announced plans to relocate a significant portion of its business operations to Stamford. With construction underway, the company anticipates occupying its new headquarters sometime mid-2020. "ITV America is focused on finding innovative ways to keep our business thriving while securing career opportunities for both current and future employees," said ITV America CEO David George. "Our proposed partnership with the State of Connecticut delivers on both fronts – we're delighted to have worked with the Governor's office on this plan, which allows us to service many of our current projects while also promoting growth at ITV America. We look forward to putting down roots in Stamford and to being a dynamic part of the community." In addition to ITV America, Wheelhouse Entertainment, a newly-launched media and entertainment company founded by entrepreneur Brent Montgomery, is also coming to Stamford, and will share the space with ITV. Between the two, it's anticipated that more than 450 jobs will be created. The project is supported, in part, by Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which will provide loans to the companies with partial forgiveness based on that job creation. And like many of the state's other media companies, they'll also be eligible for tax credits. "We are talking about activities that are happening due to the fact that we have some really effective incentives on the books that folks are leveraging right now," said Norfleet, who continued by saying that film, television, and digital media companies currently make up a vigorous industry in Connecticut. "And we're thankful to have them." A.D. Calvo of Essex-based Goodnight Film, on the set of "Sweet, Sweet, Lonely Girl," a horror movie filmed in and around Vernon. [Photos | Robert Wise ] DIGITAL MEDIA & FILM