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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Governor's Office of Economic Development says the economic impact of the film industry was $138 million in the past year.
The governor's staff told lawmakers Wednesday that while filmmakers only spent $54 million in the state last year, the economic ripple effect of that spending was 2.5 times greater.
It was the first time an economic analysis has been done on Utah's film industry.
The state is increasingly trying to lure films to Utah, but state officials say Utah needs greater economic incentives to land them.
Utah currently caps its incentive program at $500,000 for films that spend $1 million or more in the state.
The Utah Film Office plans to ask lawmakers for more generous incentives next month.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
