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"Blood & Oil," the first network television series to be filmed in Utah since "Touched by an Angel" ended in 2006, got an $8.3 million boost Thursday from the state.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board offered the tax credit to the ABC television series, which is about an ambitious young couple who move to North Dakota to take advantage of the oil boom there, but their fortunes end up pitted against those of an evil oil tycoon.
Part of the reason GOED and Utah Film Commission members are so excited about the project — even if Utah and North Dakota are rarely mistaken for one another — is that the production is projected to have a local cast and crew of more than 3,000 and to have an economic impact of $33.3 million in the state.
But there's more, said Film Commission Director Virginia Pearce, citing the "credibility" it brings to Utah's film industry.
"ABC did look at other states in the West," Pearce said, "but the combination of our incentive package, incredible locations and film resources confirmed that Utah was the best place for them."
The series is expected to debut in September, according to ABC's website.
GOED also provided financial support Thursday for five other productions — three feature films and two reality shows.
"Utah's film industry has begun to really flourish since January," Pearce said. "To have such a variety of studio, independent, local and out-of-state productions coming to Utah shows that we are growing and truly maintaining our reputation as a filmmaking destination."
The companies are projected to spend $3.1 million in the state and to hire 800 local cast and crew members for work starting this summer, she added.
Funding went to:
"Mythica" • A film produced by Utah-based Camera 40 that is projected to spend $1.1 million in the state and will receive a maximum tax credit of $278,000;
"Diesel Dave" • A reality series produced by Magilla Entertainment for the Discovery Channel that will get a tax credit of up to $145,000;
"Monolith" • An Italian production being shot around Kanab by Picturesque Films which will get a tax credit of up to $100,000;
"Utah ProStart Teen Chef Masters" • By REEL People Productions, which gets up to $87,000; and
"Stepsisters" • An independent feature that Narrator Entertainment began filming in August. Expected to provide work for 168 local cast and crew, it will receive a maximum tax credit of $68,000.
GOED also offered a $312,500 post-performance incentive to Prime Inc., a large trucking company based in Springfield, Mo., to establish an operation in Salt Lake City.
Prime expects to invest $40 million in the facility, which will have 129 employees earning 125 percent of the average Salt Lake County wage.
"We are excited to announce the expansion of our western regional operations in one of the most beautiful cities in America," said Robert Low, founder and CEO of Prime Inc., whose fleet includes nearly 6,000 trucks and 11,000 trailers and operates in both the United States and Canada.
"Salt Lake City is integral to our operational growth initiatives," he said, calling Utah Prime's Western hub.
Besides the capital investment, Prime's presence is expected to produce $36 million in new state wages and $2.1 million in tax revenues over the next five years.