By Bill Popp

Alaska has recently taken center stage in multiple theatrical releases such as "The Proposal" and "The Fourth Kind" and in television reality shows including, "The Deadliest Catch," "The Alaska Experiment" and the recently debuted "Alaska State Troopers."

Unfortunately, the major film releases featuring Alaska had minimal impact on the state economy because they were, for the most part, filmed out-of-state with places such as Massachusetts and Canada filling in for Alaska.

And, while the reality television shows were filmed in Alaska, their budgets have a smaller impact in Alaska communities than a feature film or a scripted television series.

Fortunately, a statewide film incentive program created through legislation sponsored by Sen. Johnny Ellis has started to show promise. By encouraging filmmakers to shoot productions in Alaska, the Alaska Film Production Incentive Program promotes a diversified economy and will lead to new businesses and jobs in the state.

As shown by the recent announcement by Anchorage film company Evergreen Film, of a development deal with Alaska author Dana Stabenow for a TV series based on her Kate Shugak books, the Film Incentive Program is working as planned. It's not only supporting this new economic engine, but is actually helping it to grow.

"The Proposal" and "The Fourth kind" are only the most recent of many productions that are set in Alaska, but filmed elsewhere. "Northern Exposure" brought Alaska into the homes of millions of Americans, but the state missed out on the $839,000 spent on the 110 episodes because the show was shot in Washington.

The popular vampire movie "30 Days of Night" was set in Barrow and produced at a cost of $30 million, yet filmed in New Zealand. "Snow Dogs" with a $33 million budget was lost to British Columbia.

Alaska missed out on these opportunities, in part, because until recently, Alaska was one of only a handful of states that wasn't offering incentives to the film industry. Since the creation of the Alaska program, production companies that previously showed little interest in Alaska are now starting to demonstrate a renewed interest.

Local companies and the Alaska Film Office have received multiple requests for information from producers across the nation wondering what Alaska has to offer. Enticed to Alaska by the film incentives, producers have begun to see the opportunities that Alaska's natural beauty offers and scripts are now being re-written specifically for Alaska.

All of this activity is not lost on the members of the business community who will be supplying services to the producers, cast and crews of these productions. The economic benefits from this emerging industry will filter to many sectors of the Alaska economy including professional services, transportation, hospitality and construction.

With film productions comes a boom to dry cleaning services, hotels, hardware and electrical shops, restaurants, car rentals, commercial construction and many other small businesses. And having the real Alaska portrayed on the big (and small TV) screen is sure to inspire increased tourism interest at time when it is most needed.

But our work is not done. Evergreen Films, who is also an Anchorage Economic Development Corp. investor, recently constructed a multi-million dollar post-production studio in Anchorage.

In conjunction with private investors, they are also working to identify additional property to build a sound stage, which is an important component to attracting larger film productions to our state. This is just one step towards creating infrastructure that will help make Alaska the hottest film location destination.

Alaska is again in the spotlight. Let's take advantage of it. Together we can show filmmakers from around the world our famous Alaska hospitality by welcoming them with open arms.

With the Alaska Film Production Incentive Program in place, we can further diversify our economy, continue to create high-paying private sector jobs, and attract additional investment to Alaska.

Let's make sure the next time Alaska is on the big screen, we've won the part.

Bill Popp is CEO and president of the Anchorage Economic Development Corp.