Pritzker Highlights Champaign County Film Industry Growth, Economic Impact (Rantoul, IL) – Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday visited Flyover Film Studios in Rantoul to highlight the rapid growth of Central Illinois’ film industry and its expanding role in the state’s economic development.
Joined by officials from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and local leaders, Pritzker pointed to Champaign County as an emerging hub for film and television production. State officials said film activity in the Champaign County region generated $12.3 million in economic impact in 2025 alone.
“Champaign County is at the forefront of our state’s expanding entertainment industry, one that continues to spur innovation, creativity and positive economic impacts,” Pritzker said. “Because of trailblazers like Flyover Film Studios, our state is a premier destination for film production.”
Flyover Film Studios operates on six acres of the former Chanute Air Force Base, using renovated hangars, sound stages and standing sets to host a wide range of productions. The studio has supported projects ranging from documentaries to music videos and has become a focal point for film activity in Central Illinois. Its growth and community impact led the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce to name Flyover Film Studios its 2025 Business of the Year.
According to data from Film Champaign-Urbana, productions based in Champaign, Ford and Piatt counties generated $6.3 million in direct in-state spending in 2025, including hotel stays, catering, transportation, equipment rentals and post-production services. Overall, those projects contributed $12.3 million in statewide business sales, added $7.8 million to Illinois’ gross domestic product and generated $1.61 million in wages.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said the industry’s growth reflects broader efforts to make Illinois attractive to creative professionals.
“From world-class talent and diverse locations to strong infrastructure and supportive communities, Illinois offers everything creatives need to bring their vision to life,” Stratton said.
State Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, said the expansion of film production has created jobs while boosting local businesses and tourism.
“As a resident of Champaign County for over 45 years, it’s been incredible to witness the impact of a company like Flyover Film Studios on our region,” Faraci said.
The state has invested directly in the region’s film infrastructure, including a $1.1 million grant awarded in 2024 through the Illinois Soundstage Program. Additional grants support the Central Illinois Film and TV Production Training program, which provides tuition-free training for in-demand film trades. State officials said the program achieved a 100% job placement rate for graduates working on independent films in the region in 2024.
DCEO Director Kristin Richards said state incentives and workforce programs have been critical to the industry’s success.
“Illinois’ film industry is booming, and Champaign County’s achievements are a testament to the positive effects felt statewide from the expansion of the Film Production Tax Credit,” Richards said.
Flyover Film Studios President and co-owner Jennifer Shelby said education and workforce development are central to the studio’s mission.
“Film is the industry of industries,” Shelby said. “We are fully committed to high-quality work and to training future leaders in the industry.”
Statewide, film production expenditures reached $653 million in 2024, the second-highest total in Illinois history, according to state officials. The industry supported an estimated 18,200 hires and generated $351 million in wages, rebounding after production slowdowns caused by labor strikes in 2023.
Illinois’ incentive program offers tax credits for local labor and production spending and has been credited with attracting major productions. State officials estimate the program has generated $6.81 in economic activity for every dollar invested, totaling more than $4.5 billion in economic impact between fiscal years 2017 and 2024.
The state’s growing reputation in film and television was further underscored by MovieMaker magazine, which recently ranked Chicago as the third-best large city in the country to live and work as a filmmaker in 2026.
Pritzker Highlights Champaign County Film Industry Growth, Economic Impact
