Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Film Commission have announced a virtual workshop aimed at helping Texas communities become certified as Film Friendly Texas or Digital Media Friendly Texas. Scheduled for April 10, the event targets communities interested in fostering local job creation and economic growth through media production.

"Texas’ growing media production industry supports local jobs and creates revenue in communities across our great state," stated Governor Abbott. He emphasized the role of the Texas Film Commission in collaborating with community partners to market their skills, attract investments, and stimulate job growth. This initiative has reportedly led to over $2.5 billion in local spending and the creation of more than 189,000 production jobs statewide.

The workshop will be cohosted by the Texas Film Commission and the City of Cedar Park. It includes sessions such as "How to Become a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community" and "How to Become a Digital Media Friendly Texas Certified Community." The event is designed for community leaders working within city or county governments, convention bureaus, chambers of commerce, or local economic development corporations who will act as liaisons for media production inquiries.

Participation in this workshop is a necessary step toward certification under both programs. The virtual format offers an accessible way for attendees to meet these requirements.

The Film Friendly Texas program began in 2007 and now boasts over 175 certified communities focused on developing media industries within the state. Meanwhile, the Digital Media Friendly Texas program was launched last year to attract digital media productions like animation, visual effects (VFX), video games, and extended reality (XR).

For further details or registration information about the upcoming workshop, visit gov.texas.gov/film/page/fftx_workshops.