To qualify for the Austin Creative Content Incentive, projects must:

- Provide end credit to the City of Austin by displaying the Austin Film Commission’s “Made in Austin” logo or the words “Produced with the support of the City of Austin.”

- Provide Electronic Press Kits (EPK) with images and additional assets to include but not limited to press contacts, summary of the project, location credit and quotes on shooting in Austin to the City of Austin and Visit Austin as requested for promotional purposes.

- Be an approved applicant for production incentives from the Texas Film Commission in one of the following categories: film & television projects, video game projects, commercials or visual effects. Alternatively, if a project is not approved or eligible for the Texas Moving Image Incentive Program, projects may provide additional information to be considered.

- Film and television projects, reality television, and commercials must pay all employees for positions for which they seek the incentive the higher amount of either union wages or Austin’s current living wage, and ensure the availability of other employment benefits equivalent to union benefits.

- Video game and visual effects projects must pay all employees for positions for which they seek the incentive at least Austin’s current living wage; provide all workers with health insurance benefits; and extend employee benefits to same-sex partners and their dependents.

- Complete an online training with the City’s Small and Minority Business Resources (SMBR) prior to the first day of filming and submit the list of contracts for the project after production is completed for review by SMBR.

- The primary place of business for the company’s project must be within the City of Austin’s Desired Development Zone.

Completed applications must be received by the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department no earlier than 180 calendar days and no later than 5PM Central Standard Time on the fifth business day prior to the first day of principal photography or, for video games the first day of asset creation and for animation the first day of commencement of layout.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received with a response to the application within three months of receipt. For applications with a potential award over the City Manager’s Spending Authority (currently $74,000) approval will need to go to City Council, which could lengthen this timeline. Applicants should not assume approval of their project.

This grant is awarded on a selective, case-by-case basis. The City of Austin considers a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the current and likely future effect on the promotion of Austin’s historic, cultural, natural or man-made resources, as well as the current and likely future economic impact on Austin through direct production spending, as well as business development and tourism opportunities. The project’s likely distribution and / or exhibition is also considered.

The maximum incentive per project is 2.5% of the wages paid to local residents. 

Local residents are defined as individuals whose payroll address is within the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, and Caldwell Counties).

Projects will be scored and allocated a percentage amount based upon their score. The total award amount will be estimated at the time of agreement execution. An award amount may be within a variance of up to 10% of the award estimated at the time of agreement, which shall be based on achievement of commitments. The total award amount will be capped at an amount not to exceed that variance.

Projects that score between 76-100 points will be eligible for a 2.5% grant.
Projects that score between 50-75 points will be eligible for a 1.5% grant.
Projects that score between 0-49 points will not be eligible for a grant.