WHY ROCKFORD
Why Rockford
Forbes recently highlighted Rockford, Illinois as a city thriving in its own reinvention with nearly a billion dollars of both public and private investment in the downtown area surrounding City Stage Studios just in recent years.
Rockford is simply an easy town to work in. Excellent local food options for catering and dining out, a beautiful hotel mere blocks from the studio, equipment rental houses, simple permitting, and experienced local crew.
Rockford is full of resources and yet everything is easily accessible. Stay on schedule with a short predictable drive anywhere in the city.
TAX INCENTIVES
Given that City Stage Studios is located in Illinois, productions filming in our facility can take advantage of the state’s generous tax incentives.
An additional 5% credit is available on Illinois resident salaries for filming in Rockford since we are located outside of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
- In 2025 the Illinois General Assembly expanded the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit Act, offering producers a credit of 35% of all qualified Illinois spending, including post-production and Illinois resident salaries up to $500,000 per worker; and 30% on limited non-resident salaries up to $500,00 per worker. The Illinois Film Tax Credit is currently scheduled for legislative renewal in 2039.
Directory
In addition to the stages at City Stage Studios, our directory offers resources for your productions
