City of Guthrie

PROJECT PURPOSE

The City of Guthrie is requesting funding to construct a State-certified film/tv production soundstage. The film industry is growing rapidly in Oklahoma, and Guthrie has benefited greatly from the industry expansion. Based on industry feedback, the hurdles to further expansion in Guthrie and the State of Oklahoma are the lack of soundstage resources and an insufficient number of skilled workers. Meridian Technology?s new Guthrie campus is already working on the workforce training component for our area. Our proposal is to construct a 14,800 sq ft facility on land the City already owns. It will be in close proximity to the new Meridian Technology campus, and will serve as a learning lab for students they train for film/TV careers. Total project cost is $5,000,000, and the City is requesting $750,000 of state ARPA funds to accompany $750,000 of our own local funds, and we are applying for the remaining $3,500,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Adding a soundstage to our local resources will enable the industry to grow exponentially, building more economic resiliency into our local and State workforce, and diversifying the opportunities for workers who have been impacted by COVID-19.

EVIDENCE

We have verified the need for workforce development and soundstage construction via interviews with industry professionals in Oklahoma and throughout the country. These needs have been mirrored by statements from the State's Oklahoma Film & Music Office. In addition to this need being verified, we also have extensive experience working with film/tv production companies doing work in our community, and we feel that this prior experience gives the City of Guthrie a resume that enhances the probability of this projects success.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The City of Guthrie was impacted specifically in the tourism industry. With travel and large events being severely limited by the pandemic, our lodging and hospitality sector saw significant revenue loss, which indirectly affected the lodging tax revenue to the City of Guthrie. Our soundstage project will not only promote expanded revenue to industries ancillary to film production, but it will provide opportunities for workers to access skilled, high-paying jobs. Guthrie and Logan County are unique in their connection to both large populations as well as rural Oklahoma. This project will create more opportunities for skilled jobs and workforce training in an area where they are greatly needed.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

The City of Guthrie has experience successfully completing reporting requirements for federal funding. Interim and Project/Expenditure Reports will be completed by City Clerk and other support staff, who have extensive experience with these tasks. Performance reports will be based on, but not limited to, job creation, private investment, municipal revenue, and indirect spending in ancillary industries. These reports will be completed by City Clerk and support staff, with private and public industry partners already agreeing to provide baseline estimates as well as ongoing evaluation.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma