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Santa Fe County has determined that Santa Fe Film and Media Studios, Inc. satisfied its contractual economic development goals, it was jointly announced today by the County and Santa Fe Studios.  The “economic development goals” were established in its Project Participation and Land Transfer Agreement (PPA) with the County as well as the New Mexico Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) Film Grant Agreement between the County and the State of New Mexico. 

In exchange for certain assistance pursuant to LEDA, Santa Fe Studios was required to provide 500,000 hours of work at hourly rates above the then-current City of Santa Fe Living Wage.  Santa Fe County staff verified job hours worked by members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 480 as well as employees of Santa Fe Studios, its contractors, and lessees, concluding that  the economic development goals were met. 

”IATSE Local 480 was instrumental in helping County staff verify the 500,000 job hours,” County Manager Katherine Miller said.  “The County thanks the Union for its time and valuable assistance.” 

Lance Hool, CEO of Santa Fe Studios, also thanked IATSE, saying, “We appreciate the hard work of IATSE members on the many productions we have brought to the County and for making the hours and wages available to County staff.  Under the PPA we promised the citizens of Santa Fe County that we would encourage local economic development through film and media production, recruit labor and talent from Santa Fe County.  We’ve done just that, but our plans to employ locals does not end with satisfaction of the PPA.  Our goal has always been to help build a skilled workforce right here in Santa Fe.”

“The County was not trying to do a definitive tally of all job hours attributable to the Studios,” Ms. Miller explained.  “Rather, our limited goal was to verify 500,000 hours to satisfy the PPA,” she continued.   

Santa Fe Studios noted that there were many other workers such as Teamsters members, cast, crew, caterers, extras, directors, accountants, and others who were paid for their work in Santa Fe County both at the Studios and offsite. 

“We are pleased to have also provided hundreds of thousands of other job hours within the County, the City and the State, and we will continue to be a powerful employment generator for New Mexico,” said Lance Hool of Santa Fe Studios.

“Adding in the other Union and non-Union positions that worked on Studios-related productions, we estimate that Santa Fe Studios has created close to a million and a half hours so far,” said Jon Hendry of IATSE Local 480.  “Santa Fe Studios is the economic driver for the entire region that we hoped it would be.  And their impact is just beginning,” Hendry concluded.

“Specific to the economic development goals, the investments of Santa Fe County, the State of New Mexico, and Santa Fe Studios successfully created jobs within Santa Fe County,” said Katherine Miller.  She continued, “These investments produced quality jobs and industry business that were not previously in the County.”

Santa Fe Studios was required to build two soundstages and approximately 39,000 square feet of related facilities as “Phase 1A of three anticipated phases.”  Later phases would include additional soundstages and facilities.  Phase 1A was completed in 2011 within the timeframe required by the PPA.

Satisfaction of the economic development goals relieves Santa Fe Studios of the obligation to reimburse the County for water rights and infrastructure and for construction funding provided by the State of New Mexico.  It does not affect Santa Fe Studios’ obligations with respect to the loan guaranty provided by the County or the sale of land by the County to the Studios.

About Santa Fe Studios

Phase One of Santa Fe Studios opened in late 2011 featuring world class soundstages including two 19,275 sq-ft. stages, 25,000 sq-ft. of production offices, a 4,600 sq-ft. mill, complete onsite production services, 57 acres open for back-lot, and ultra broadband capacity.  Designed and built by film professionals for film professionals, Santa Fe Studios has hosted over ten major Hollywood productions including The Magnificent 7, We’re the Millers, A Million Ways to Die in the Westand The Ridiculous Six.  It has acted as the production facility for a number of television pilots – signaling not only positive growth for the Studios and other local production partners, but also growing awareness of Santa Fe as an attractive destination location for industry leaders such as NBC Universal, FOX, Netflix, Amazon, and CBS. Most recently, the Emmy-award winning television series Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, was filmed at the Studios. 

For more information about the Studios, visit www.santafestudios.com.