Choice Stages, which operates a TV and movie production studio at 168 Bracken Road in the Orange County town of Montgomery has received financial incentives from the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to expand the facility. Choice plans to build a second studio building at an estimated cost of $21.6 million. The new building would be next door to the existing facility and would cover approximately 75,000 square feet. It would have three soundstages for TV and film production.
Choice Stages is associated with Choice Films, Inc., which has its headquarters in Newburgh. Choice’s existing studio operation in Montgomery has four soundstages, the largest of which is 20,000 square feet with a height of 35 feet. The other soundstages cover 14,000 square feet, 10,000 square feet and 9,000 square feet. In addition, Choice operates the Hope Studio Stage in the city of Middletown in Orange County that has a 10,000-square-feet soundstage. The studio buildings also have offices, scenic shops, storage and other support facilities.
The IDA unanimously approved a resolution providing financial incentives for the expansion project that include $812,500 in sales tax exemptions, a mortgage recording tax exemption of $120,000 and a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement for property taxes in an amount to be determined.
In a recent internet post, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said, “The film industry is alive and well right here in Orange County, and a big part of that is thanks to Summer (Crockett Moore) and Tony (Glazer) (who are managing partners) over at Choice Stages! They’ve built an amazing space that’s attracting top productions and giving our local economy a real boost. It’s always exciting to see our county featured on screen, and even better knowing the work behind the scenes is happening right here in our own community.”
At an IDA hearing, Amanda Dana, director of Orange County Tourism & Film, said, “I’ve had the privilege of running the film office since 2019 and I’d like to go on record by saying Choice Films, Choice Stages, have been a true partner to the County of Orange. They have always been there to give an extra hand to train people. I am here in favor of this project.”
Dana said that small businesses are thriving because of the activity generated at the existing studio site.
“This truly is an economic driver,” Dana said.
Steven Gross, director of economic development for Orange County, said, “This project represents exactly the kind of forward-looking diversified economic development projects that Orange County government has been working toward. The film production movie industry is a growing sector in the Hudson Valley and in Orange County and New York state and projects like this help position our county as competitive and attractive for these important creative industries.”
Gross said that the expansion would bring private investment, support construction activity and create a wide range of jobs including technical and administrative positions.
