Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced Monday that all 159 Georgia counties have been designated Camera Ready.
The state’s Camera Ready Community Program is the first of its kind in the nation in offering a community-based production-assistance program.
The program was established in 2010 to help develop and sustain the burgeoning film and television industry by offering production companies access to local resources and information. The program is a special designation given to participating Georgia communities interested in cultivating and attracting the entertainment industry. Camera Ready communities name liaisons who can assist film and television production companies on a local level.
“Not only does this industry employ more than 77,900 Georgians, but it creates a sustainable environment with new infrastructure, more business opportunities for existing Georgia businesses and new educational programs through our universities and technical colleges,” Deal said. “I congratulate every community in Georgia for taking part in this statewide program and making our state a more attractive place for film and television production.”  
The final 20 counties that received the Camera Ready designation include Long, Atkinson, Baker, Burke, Charlton, Echols, Effingham, Glascock, Heard, Irwin, Jefferson, Jones, Peach, Pierce, Treutlen, Twiggs, Ware, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth.
“Georgia’s Camera Ready liaisons offer productions direct access to local resources and play an essential role in attracting movie and television projects to Georgia,” GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr said. “This industry is already having a significant impact in communities across the state creating new jobs, investment opportunities, new tourism product and beyond. I am thrilled that every county in Georgia wants to be part of the action.”
GFMDE Office Project Manager Craig Dominey assisted each community with obtaining its designation.
“When we began this program four years ago, we had 16 communities certified as Camera Ready,” GFMDE Office Deputy Commissioner Lee Thomas said. “With every county prepared to assist the film industry, Georgia is better equipped to welcome and serve more productions statewide.”
More than 158 feature-film and television productions were shot in Georgia during fiscal year 2014, with a combined production spend of $1.4 billion. As a whole, the industry’s economic impact for FY14 hit $5.1 billion, up from $1.33 billion in FY10 when the program began.
To learn more about Georgia’s Camera Ready Community Program, go to www.georgia.org/cameraready.