L.A. County Board Approves Streamlining Film Permits, Eyes $100 Million Innovation Fund

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously passed a motion to overhaul film permitting procedures and explore a proposed $100 million public-private investment fund, aiming to strengthen the region’s entertainment industry amid ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the dual Hollywood strikes of 2023.

The initiative, co-authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey P. Horvath, directs the Department of Economic Opportunity’s LA County Film Office to collaborate with several County departments—including the Department of Regional Planning, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Beaches and Harbors, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Sheriff’s Department—to evaluate current permitting policies and identify improvements. Officials hope to make filming in the County more efficient, affordable and competitive compared to other production centers such as Georgia, New York and Texas.

“Our region is the heart of entertainment,” Board Chair Barger said. “We’re taking action today to cut through outdated bureaucracy, invest in innovation, and make sure Los Angeles County remains the number one place to film and create.”

The motion also calls for the study of a proposed Evergreen Fund, an investment vehicle ranging between $80 million and $100 million, designed to boost emerging technology start-ups in the film and television sectors. County departments will coordinate with the Center for Strategic Partnerships and the Department of Arts and Culture to assess funding sources, job impacts and long-term viability.

“This motion models how local government can do its part to support the film industry,” said Paul Audley, president of FilmLA, the County’s official film office. “Today’s vote was a vote to support an industry that needs every bit of help it can get and reaffirms its vital role in the economy.”

The Board instructed staff to begin feasibility studies and draft reports within 120 days to accelerate solutions that both enhance industry competitiveness and respond to community needs.