Gov says he welcomes Hollywood to Massachusetts
By Don Conkey
The Patriot Ledger
July 8, 2008
PLYMOUTH — While touting a grant that will award Plymouth close to $1 million for road repairs, Gov. Deval Patrick said he believes Hollywood East will help boost Massachusetts’ place in the national spotlight.
“A little glamour does not hurt us. We can handle that,” Patrick said Monday. “It is calling attention to ourselves. A way for people to know that we are here, and open for business.” Plymouth Rock Studios, informally known as “Hollywood East,” recently struck a deal to buy Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth as the site for a movie and television production campus.
Patrick said that on a recent trip to California, he came away with the impression from film studio executives “that Massachusetts is very much on their radar screen as a destination for movie production,” as opposed to mainly being thought of only as a place to film movies.
The Legislature increased tax credits for movie and television production companies in an effort to lure the industry here. Movie making has now reached an unprecedented level in the state.
Also Monday, Patrick talked about a $950,000 Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) jobs grant for Plymouth. “The MORE Jobs Program provides resources to support partnerships between local municipalities and the private sector to foster development and help create hundreds of new jobs,” Patrick said.
The money will be used to pave Wareham Road and create a Bourne Road connector in South Plymouth, both of which are intended to reduce traffic around the River Run housing development. Wareham Road is now a gravel road. Patrick’s office estimates that 9,300 vehicles travel on roads near the River Run development daily. The Bourne Road connecter is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on local roads, which threatens the rural characteristics of the Halfway Pond area, Patrick said. “This is not a grant for River Run. It is a grant for the people of Plymouth” and the area in general, Patrick said.
In addition, the administration has awarded a Workforce Training Fund grant of $49,300 to Suncor Stainless Inc. of Plymouth. That grant will be used to train about 140 employees at the company, which manufactures stainless steel and titanium products.
Don Conkey may be reached at dconkey@ledger.com.